Sometimes we spend so much
covering America's history of racial injustice,
we forget where it all began:
Europe, the O.G. of racism.
Yeah, if America is Jacquees,
Europe is the real king of R&B.
White people, ask your black friend what that joke means.
They'll explain it to you.
And right now in Europe
when they're not flipping cars over
and setting them on fire, they're having a major debate
about what to do with all the art
that they borrowed permanently by force from Africa.
And according to the president of France,
it should all be returned.
President Emmanuel Macron argues it's unacceptable
that around 90% of Africa's artistic heritage
is outside Africa
and says French law should be changed
to make restitution possible.
Speaking in Burkina Faso, he said it was wrong
for only Europeans and Americans to have access to African art.
In five years he wanted to start the process
of temporary or definitive restitution.
(speaking French)
Yeah. That's pretty amazing. I think that's pretty amazing,
and it's very nice of the French president.
-(cheering and applause) -Although...
although it is gonna be weird
when Africa gets all the sculptures back
and the Africans are like, "Wait a second.
"Why do these sculptures smell like cigarettes and threesomes?
Eh? What's going on here?"
Although, honestly, I do think if after profiting
off of all of this art for all these years
they're just gonna give it back, I don't think that's enough.
I think France should give the art back with interest.
Yeah. They should.
(cheering and applause)
I think Africa should choose some European art.
They should be like, "Okay, thank you
"for giving us our art back.
"We'll also take that creepy white lady
and the guy with the tiny penis, eh?"
(laughter)
But it's... Kudos. Kudos to Macron.
He's doing something.
And unfortunately, not everyone in Europe
is as remorseful as Macron.
In fact, some Europeans in the art world believe
that they did Africa a favor by stealing our shit.
"It was meant to disappear?
It was meant to disappear?"
That is some next-level shade.
This asshole is saying that when Africans made stuff like this,
they didn't know that they were making art.
So if this wasn't art,
what did Africans think they were making?
The world's most uncomfortable butt plug?
What were they making?
And here's another thing. Whether it was art or a table
or a piece of trash, it still belongs to Africa.
I mean, Europe wouldn't stand for it
if the situation was reversed.
Africa couldn't get away with taking anything from Europe,
even if it was something they didn't want, like Greece.
I mean, yeah, sure,
it doesn't work, and it smells like feta cheese,
but it still belongs in Europe, and they would want it back.
Oh, oh, and then you have the Europeans who say
they wish they could return the art to Africa,
they really do, but they just don't think
Africa's ready for that kind of responsibility.
Western museums have often resisted repatriating art,
arguing that they can take better care of it.
Returning the object is possibly a good point.
Entering into dialogue is the best thing that we do.
But who are we gonna return the objects to?
It's one of these things that looks like morally, on its face,
give it back to who it belongs.
Well, who does it belong to?
It hasn't been in that country for over 100 years.
And, you know, look, France built
the whole Musée quai Branly to respect these objects,
to preserve them, to show them.
Yeah. Yeah, what... How is Africa...?
You know, this is some sneaky-ass logic,
if you think about it, 'cause their argument is basically,
"You Africans cannot protect your art.
"We know that because we stole it from you, eh?
We took it all."
But seriously, though, how dare Europe imply
that Africa can't protect its own art.
You want to talk security? You guys have a bunch
of sleepy museum cops guarding your art.
We got lions, bitch, okay?
We got lions, and those lions will guard that sculpture better
than anybody could-- Aw, shit. Bad Simba!
Simba, come on.
You're holding us back, man.
Now, look, uh, it is true
Africa's museums might not be as modern as Europe's.
But if you're that concerned about it,
how about just making the museums in Africa better?
Take a tiny piece of that sweet colonialism money
and build a museum in Africa
that you feel confident in, yeah?
-(cheering and applause) -Why not?
We're not too proud to take your money.
In fact, you can Venmo it to me directly.
I will-- I will pass it along. I promise.
But maybe the most insulting solution to this debate
is the one that Belgium has decided on.
The former Royal Museum of Central Africa in Belgium
is reopening amid a storm of controversy.
The newly named Africa Museum
chronicles the colonial era of the Belgian Congo.
It holds one of the world's largest collection
of African art.
REPORTER: The museum has chosen to retain
the original presentation of exhibits
but explain their historical context.
Oh, that's really interesting.
So, in Belgium,
instead of giving the art back,
they're gonna keep all of it
and then just tell museum visitors
that all of the art is stolen.
Which is really nice, because, by providing context,
they're gonna-- Get the (bleep) out of here, man!
How is that supposed to make us feel better?
What is that bullshit? "Yeah, we're not gonna give you
your shit back. We're just gonna tell the people that it was--"
You know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna book a ticket to Belgium.
That's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna go there,
and I'm gonna steal all their waffles and berets
or whatever the (bleep) they got over there.
And then they're gonna be like, "We are Belgium,
and we want our waffle back."
And I'll be like, "Actually, Belgium,
"I'm gonna keep this waffle.
But I'll tell everyone it was yours."