What Do I Owe to an Impoverished Villager I Befriended Abroad?

The guilt has haunted me for years.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story December 12, 2020 Illustration by Tomi Um The Ethicist What Do I Owe to an Impoverished Villager I Befriended Abroad? The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on whether we have a duty of charity to individuals — and more. By Kwame Anthony Appiah Years ago, I was a volunteer English teacher in a village in Cameroon, where I befriended one of my young students, D. He was very helpful to me and spent many evenings at my home, assisting me with chores in exchange for meals, and teaching me the ins and outs of life in the village. He never asked me for anything, but I would periodically buy him school supplies or clothing, as he was very poor and said he was motherless. At one point, I left him money to care for my dog while I was away on an extended trip, and when I returned, the dog was emaciated and had obviously been fed very little. D. had clearly spent the money on something else. Although I was very upset about the condition of my dog, I felt enough empathy for D.’s impoverished circumstances that I didn’t question him about it. After I left Cameroon, I lost touch with D. I felt guilty for “abandoning” him — guilt that haunted me for years. What obligations do I have to D.? Read the Ethicist’s response here. GREAT PERFORMERS For a surprise, use Google Lens on your smartphone, scan the print magazine and watch the pages come to life. Gareth McConnell for The New York Times The Best Actors of 2020 In a year of tragedy and isolation, screens were more important than ever before. These film, TV and TikTok stars gave us more than just diversion. By Wesley Morris and A.O. Scott THIS WEEK’S MAGAZINE Christopher Anderson/Magnum, for The New York Times Great Performers Dear Academy: Please Give Cher Another Oscar “Moonstruck” sustained so many of us through the pandemic. We talked to Cher about why it endures. By Caity Weaver Djeneba Aduayom for The New York Times Great Performers Viola Davis Wants to Be Honest With You “When you’re creating a character, the most important thing you can do is observe life.” By David Marchese Malike Sidibe for The New York Times Great Performers We’re Not Used to Seeing Women Act This Way A new class of artists are engaged in a risky performance of self — not as elegant but as klutzy, volatile and occasionally unstable. By Wesley Morris Malike Sidibe for The New York Times Great Performers The Two Minute Geniuses of TikTok Comedians like Sarah Cooper, Blaire Erskine and Jeff Wright turned the short clip into a mirror — and a send up — of our pandemic anxiety. By A.O. Scott Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT MORE FROM THE MAGAZINE Photo illustration by Mike McQuade Screenland Watch This Disgusting Food Video Right Now. It Explains Everything. A viral clip of a grotesque breakfast dish reveals more about the way we use social media — and how it uses us — than about American cuisine. By Rosa Lyster Illustration by Ori Toor Studies Show We Know How to Curb the Pandemic. How Do We Make People Listen? Could better public health messaging persuade more people to change their behavior? By Kim Tingley Photograph by Heami Lee. Food stylist: Maggie Ruggiero. Prop stylist: Rebecca Bartoshesky. Eat This Borscht Is the Essence of the East Village The Polish diner that used to feed me is gone, so I make this soup instead. It’s almost as good. By Gabrielle Hamilton Photo illustration by Ben Denzer Letter of Recommendation Library Books: A Small Antidote to a Life of Perpetual Dissatisfaction A little realism goes a long way in a world where the next book purchase, the next apartment, the next significant other promise to finally deliver the goods. By Ben Dolnick Stay in touch: Follow us on Twitter (@NYTmag) or check us out on Instagram. Appreciated this email? Forward it to a friend and help us grow. Loved a story? Hated it? Write us a letter at magazine@nytimes.com. Did a friend forward this to you? Sign up here to get the magazine newsletter. Listen to narrated versions of our articles every week. Download Audm for iPhone or Android. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The New York Times Magazine from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018