Presents histories and descriptions of two major public library collections of Afro-Americana and Africana: the Vivian G. Harsh Collection of Afro-American History and Literature (Chicago Public Library); and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (New York Public Library). Fifteen references are listed. (Author/MES)

For the historian whose charge is to discover those antecedents in the past which can illuminate the present, the study of African history can be highly rewarding, both intellectually and professionally. This essay is addressed to students of history whose prime area of expertise is other than Africa. (RM)

An annotated listing, by publisher, of Black and Black-related books, described as incomplete due to space limitations. Includes novels, scholarly analyses, poetry, history, cultural studies, political studies, biographies, how-to manuals, bibliographies, drama, literary criticism, and folklore. (CMG)

Reviews research and opinion about the origin of Ebonics, refutes theories on Ebonics being a black version of English, and characterizes Ebonics as an African-based language in structure and origin, mixed with European words. Contains 51 references. (SLD)

The Black family has maintained its past. African traditions, attitudes, and institutionalized forms of behavior have survived in contemporary America. The ways in which African culture was transmitted from parent to child are still a mystery to Western civilization. (Author/WI)

Current research reveals that West African musical concepts provided the foundation for the various musical genres created by Black Americans. The Black musical tradition continues to evolve and mirror new values, attitudes, philosophies, and life-styles without the loss of a West African identity. (RLV)

The perseverance of African musical characteristics among American Blacks is an historic reality. African retentions have been recorded in Black music of the antebellum period. Various African scales and rhythms permeate Black American music today as evidenced in the retentions found in blues and jazz. (RLV)

Discusses the decline in publications for black children since the 1960's. Presents an annotated list of black literature for children including African history, African and Caribbean folktales, the African connection with American blacks, biographies and autobiographies, fiction, and poetry. (SA)

The author reports on his experiences as a Black American travelling in Nigeria and Ghana. He reviews the many similarities and the few differences between the Black American and the African experience from the broad perspectives of philosophy, psychology, sociology, and art. (Author/MC)

Seemingly contradictory positions of J. Conrad as both a racist and an opponent of race-based imperial practices are discussed with reference to "The Heart of Darkness." It is argued that Conrad made a conscious effort to shake off the racial theories of the time and to deplore imperial racism. (SLD)

Researchers of Black American culture argue that interpretations of their experience are skewed by academe's Western perspective, and are becoming champions of Afrocentricity. (MSE)

Establishes a black essentialist aesthetic for jazz rap, showing its relation to an African-derived history and other black traditions. Examines newer lines of argument in aesthetics about contemporary recordings focusing on Theodore Gracyk. Argues that jazz rap is defined by actual, not recorded, performance. (CMK)

Explores use and performance of music in the Black church through examination of (1) the events that led to the conversion of Blacks to Christianity; (2) the formation of independent Black religious groups; and (3) the social and cultural milieu that fostered the development of a unique Black religious music. (Author/ML)

This paper illustrates the ways in which the social environment can confer advantages on Black youth with respect to the playing of Afro-American music. The significance of mechanisms that Blacks have elaborated to maintain certain aspects of their culture for the writing of Black history is also explored. (Author/EB)

Blacks, especially Black historians, have a responsibility to define new standards for evaluating the past, rather than using the ideologies and criteria of Whites. (Author/MC)