Elon Musk as inheritor of “The White Man’s Burden”

Elon Musk, his family, and his fans, are all fond of using the phrase “doing good things for humanity” (or some variation thereof) to describe Musk’s business activities. This is ridiculous enough – claiming that by becoming ever richer, Musk is advancing civilization. But, as “History Lives in Us,” Musk’s apparently futuristic worldview – one where he must gain riches in technologically advanced ways, impregnate many women (also using the latest technology), and colonize other planets – is a direct descendant of late-Victorian Imperialism. This isn’t surprising, given that Musk comes from a wealthy white South African dynasty.

Every time I hear or read the phrase “doing good things for humanity” to describe Musk’s corporate Imperialism, I think of Rudyard Kipling’s 1899 poem, “The White Man’s Burden.” The poem’s title became shorthand for its message: that white British men were responsible for civilizing the world, that British Imperialism was a force for positive change in the world, and that producing quality Imperialists (with the help of the developing field of eugenics) was an important task. Imperialist art, like Kipling’s poem, justified the exploitation of colonial labour and resources by depicting colonialism as a favour bestowed upon the colonized for their own good. The poem asks its reader – the titular White Man – to do all they can to fix the world and make it more (implicitly) Western European. This apparently selfless project imbues an earnest reader with a sense of self-importance – and Musk certainly seems to posses this sense of himself. He truly believes, and has convinced his fans, that he carries a great burden: that of improving the world. This improvement project, just like the poem suggests, includes sharing his sperm far and wide for “breed”[ing] “the best.” The phrase “doing great things for humanity” drops the “improving the race” aspect that early to mid- 20^th century proclamations might have carried, but it bears the same lineage.  

Musk may be unconsciously carrying this worldview passed down to him, but really, how narcissistic do you have to be to believe that you are really “doing great things for humanity”?!