Presents a historical perspective on important questions about the scientific status of Afrocentricity, its thrust toward community, advocates of Afrocentrism, nationalism and communality, gender issues, and Afrocentricity's role in comparative studies. The current emergence of African-American studies curricula in universities reflect a…

Discusses new directions for African-American studies curricula. Argues that the Afrocentrist perspective presents a static model that does not adequately address the dynamic interaction of Afrocentric sensibility with Western-dominated economic, cultural, and political structures. The African-American studies discipline should be conceptualized…

Argues that traditional sociology has treated Black studies as peripheral to the study of human behavior. Proposes a paradigm that includes an emphasis on Afrocentric perspective and a methodology that combines positivist and critical methodologies. (FMW)

Discusses Afrocentricity in education and its potential benefit to both Black and White youth. Schools do not sufficiently cover slavery and its aftermath; many Whites are unaware of African American culture and contributions. An Afrocentric formation would also foster academic success among Black youth. (DM)

A biologically rooted conception of race is both dangerous in practice and misleading in theory. African-American unity and African-American identity need foundations that are more secure than that of race. Only a multiculturalism that accepts America's diversity while teaching the ways and worth of others can avoid the perpetual schism toward…

Lack of individual and group self-esteem hinders African Americans in their efforts to compete with others in U.S. society. A person or group with self-esteem will not settle for second-class treatment. Suggestions for promoting individual and group self-esteem for blacks are presented. (SLD)

Analyzes the history of the development of African-American studies as a social science and humanities discipline, and contends that the field is so new it has no history of its own. The inception of the Temple University (Pennsylvania) School of Afrocentric Scholarship marks the discipline's real birth. (SLD)

Discusses Black Americans' concern about what to call themselves and examines attempts to develop an Afrocentric point of view. Questions an automatic identification between African-Americans and Africa, citing political, historical, and socioeconomic factors that qualify assumptions of cultural continuity, and calls for continued assessment and…

This essay offers reflections on Black consciousness and Afrocentrism in the United States, especially as movements in education. The paper opens by recalling the history of oppression and rejection that influences the African American heritage. Next, the essay traces some highlights in the development of ideas of race consciousness from the early…

W.E.B. Du Bois was a significant 20th-century educational thinker. His works and educational views have relevance to the social, economic, and political realities of contemporary African-American life. The paper places Du Bois' thinking within the historical context of 1930s African-American life, juxtaposes his educational thinking with that of…

Historically, the Black Church was culturally responsive to the needs of their community. In order to meet the needs of African American adult learners, the church had to assume many roles one of which was that of educator. Like many informal institutions of learning, the Black Church has been overlooked as a site for adult education research. Ten…