I'm Dan Barry, and I'm a longtime reporter with The New York Times.
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This is The Opinions, a show that brings you a mix of voices from New York Times' opinion.
You've heard the news.
Here's what to make of it.
I was born in America, but so much of who I am was shaped by my encounters with Africa.
Partly that's because I myself am half-African, mother is Ethiopian,
but I also spent much of my childhood in Kenyan Ghana,
and then many years as a foreign correspondent in Western and Southern Africa.
Globally, many wealthy countries are pulling back from Africa.
We're seeing a slashing of development aid, a decrease in loans and investment,
and several African nations bracing for the impact of President Trump's tariffs.
And in this moment of disruption, I think it can be helpful to look to the past for inspiration,