Invisible Children, Visible Setbacks

Kony 2012 poster

Released on March 5^th, Kony 2012, a short film made by Invisible Children, has drawn criticism around the world. “We are a global movement,” Invisible Children’s website says. “We are storytellers, activists, and everyday people who use the power of media to inspire young people to help end the longest running armed conflict in Africa.”

With over 100 million hits since its release date just weeks ago, the video has raised questions about the group’s funding and actions. Charity Navigator, a website that provides evaluations of America’s charities, has given Invisible Children a low ranking on accountability and transparency.  

Originally founded in 2005, the Invisible Children organization was founded by three young filmmakers, Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey, and Laren Poole. After traveling to Africa to document the conflict in Darfur, the young men were exposed to the conflict in Northern Uganda regarding the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA, led by Joseph Kony) and decided to change course. Their first documentary, entitled Rough Cut, was released in 2006. Various events and videos have since followed, but Kony 2012 has made the largest impact by far.

“I have had reservations about the group Invisible Children as they seemed to have been riding on a past problem for a long time,” said a professor of social work at Elizabethtown College who wished to remain anonymous. “They were talking about night commuters years after the children were no longer doing that,” she said, “Now they are trumpeting the problem of Kony years after he has caused serious problems.”

Peter Holslin, a 2008 graduate of The New School, spent two months traveling throughout Africa in the summer of 2008. He spent most of his time in Gulu, a district in Northern Uganda. Holslin said he and his travel partner would get rides from aid groups, and even spent three weeks in an IDP camp.

“By the time we got there, the LRA was basically gone,” Holslin said. Although he was not there to work for any specific aid organization, Holslin said that there were a wide variety of projects to get involved in. Invisible Children was not the only group there.

Holslin even described Uganda as an amateur’s playground for aid work. “It’s not just about Joseph Kony,” Holslin said, “There are a whole number of things you can do to get involved.” Holslin also discovered that it is different approaching these issues from an American perspective as opposed to being on the ground. It is easy, he said, watching the video and turning Kony into the bad guy. The organization seems to portray Americans as the saviors.

“Another criticism I have heard is the lack of focus of helping those in Africa to solve their own problems, instead they need the White folks to come in and save them,” said Elizabethtown College professor of social work.

Holslin said that he feels the Kony 2012 video was a wasted opportunity. It portrays war and complicated issues in the simplest terms possible and is manipulative and sneaky, providing little historical background and nuance.  Ultimately, Holslin said the Ugandan people he interacted with were appreciative, but were always struggling.

Jason Russell, co-founder of Invisible Children

As for now, Invisible Children has begun addressing critiques. A section on the organization’s website is dedicated for responding to the most common questions put forth by critics. With Jason Russell’s most recent public breakdown and subsequent hospitalization, however, more questions have been raised.

Despite this outcry, the “invisible children” of Uganda continue to face obstacles. “The problems certainly do still exist,” said Elizabethtown College professor, “Even if the children are not night commuting, there are problems stemming from the years of war that need addressing.”