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1		-**Colonialism is often viewed as one of the most evil periods in recent history, with claims of 30 million killed by the European Colonial Powers. In reality, the evidence shows us that wasn't necessarily the case at all.
	1	+******Colonialism is often viewed as one of the most evil periods in recent history, with claims of 30 million killed by the European Colonial Powers. In reality, the evidence shows us that wasn't necessarily the case at all.
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55	55	In 2020, amid global discussions on colonial statues and apologies, Belgium’s King **Philippe** expressed “deepest regrets” for the “acts of violence and cruelty” during the Congo Free State era – a significant gesture, though he stopped short of a formal apology. The legacy of Leopold II continues to be debated, vandalized (in statues), and dramatized. Notably, Hollywood has taken an interest: as of 2019, plans were announced for a major film adaptation of *King Leopold’s Ghost*, to be directed by **Ben Affleck** with producers including **Martin Scorsese** and **Harry Belafonte**.{{footnote}}Jules Johnston, *“Ben Affleck to make film about the Congo under Leopold II,”* **The Brussels Times** (22 Nov. 2019) – reporting that Affleck will direct and produce a film based on *King Leopold’s Ghost*, with Martin Scorsese and Harry Belafonte among the producers, focusing on the trio of reformers (Roger Casement, E.D. Morel, William Sheppard) and claiming Leopold’s rule “cost the lives of at least 8 million people.”{{/footnote}} There is concern among historians that such a film, if based uncritically on Hochschild’s book, will further entrench misconceptions and oversimplifications in the public mind, potentially making it “impossible” to have a reasoned understanding of the history. Critics of Hochschild’s approach urge that before these powerful popular narratives solidify, the record should be set straight using the best available evidence.
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57	57	In sum, the Congo Free State under Leopold II was a tragic episode marked by exploitation, violence, and suffering – but it was not a one-dimensional morality play. It was a complex interplay of **colonial ambition, African resistance and collaboration, economic forces, disease ecology, and international pressure**. Leopold’s ghost, so to speak, should be confronted with factual truth, not just exorcised with moral denunciation. By revisiting primary sources and the work of scholars (including many from Belgium and Congo), we gain a clearer picture that separates myth from reality. This reevaluation does not exonerate Leopold II’s greed or the cruel excesses of his agents, but it situates them in context and dispels the exaggerated legends that have grown up around the “red rubber” terror. As the historiography continues to evolve, the Congo Free State stands as a cautionary tale – not of premeditated genocide, but of how profiteering, neglect, and a lack of accountability can produce immense human suffering. It is a lesson that remains relevant as we assess colonialism’s legacy: only by understanding the *real* history, in all its complexity, can we do justice to the memory of those who lived and died under Leopold’s rule.{{footnote}}**W. D. Rubinstein**, *Genocide: A History* (Pearson Education, 2004), pp. 98–99 – “It appears almost certain that the population figures given by Hochschild are inaccurate… estimates like 20 million are purely guesses.” Rubinstein emphasizes careful historical demography over sensationalism.{{/footnote}}
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