Cecil Rhodes - Controversies

Controversies

• Rhodes has been portrayed by Dr. C. Magbaily Fyle as a violent and brutal racist who used forced labour tactics as a means of founding De Beers and other portions of his lucrative success.

• The PBS series titled "Queen Victoria's Empire (2001, narrated by Donald Sutherland), ends with an installment called "The Moral Crusade; The Scramble for Africa," which focuses on four eminent Victorians---William Gladstone, Benjamin Disraeli, Gen. Charles "Chinese" Gordon and Cecil Rhodes. The portrayal of Rhodes is consistent with the aforementioned depictions of him as capable of considerable racism and advocacy and employment of violence to achieve his acquisitive aspirations.