This study used participant observation, student interviews, reflective journals, and discussions with faculty members and administrators to examine multicultural aspects at an historically black college. It reviews three theoretical approaches: (1) the theory of John Ogbu, which classifies minority groups in the United States as either voluntary…

The essays in this collection place the current Afrocentric movement in its historical context and offer alternative suggestions about how to teach African American students about their history. The first section deals with the roots of Afrocentrism, analyzes the content of Afrocentric books and curricula, and discusses the impact of Afrocentrism…

Some epistemological issues underpinning alternative conceptualizations of education of children of African descent in Canada are discussed, with reference to the agency and the subjectivity of black female educators. The standard epistemologies must be reshaped to the pedagogical realities of black teachers and students in Canada. (SLD)

One of the few independent black schools in New England is Paige Academy, a school that is largely based on an African-centered pedagogy. Founded in 1975, the school was initially established as a day care center, and later expanded to include an elementary school, while retaining its infant and toddler day care. The Paige Academy now enrolls 150…

Examines the history, philosophy, methods, and operations of the Mary McLeod Bethune Institute, an Afrocentric supplementary Saturday elementary school in Los Angeles (California). Qualitative data show the role this enrichment plays in developing socially active and capable African American youth through the study of African American culture and…

Discusses background issues and defines relevant terminology related to Africentrism. Curriculum issues surrounding innovative approaches to infusing African and African-American content into the public school system are discussed. The diverse multicultural society in the United States must represent the histories and contributions of minority…

Selected papers are presented from a national conference on urban issues. They are: (1) "Collaboration as a Social Process: Inter-Institutional Cooperation and Educational Change" (Charles F. Underwood and Hardy T. Frye); (2) "Mobilizing the Village To Educate the Child" (Valerie Maholmes); (3) "Pathways to Teaching: An Urban Teacher Licensure…

Presents an "Africentric" approach to mathematics education built on the thinking and realities of African American children. The article explains what constitutes a foreign pedagogy to African American students and describes a three-year collaborative project with a middle school teacher who has implemented a pedagogy of social change…

Educational reform efforts to date in the United States have not been germane or responsive to the social problems of African American children. The reform efforts advanced to date have only been exercises in tinkering around the educational edges. Our educational focus, the origin of which is outlined, must shift in at least two major ways.…

Examines aspects of an African-centered pedagogy that should let children understand their identities as people of African heritage. Data are from an ethnographic study of "liberatory" pedagogy that was used by four black women teachers. Three vignettes illustrate liberatory practice as it explicitly addresses issues that are often…

This practicum was an 8-month project designed to improve the motivational level and academic success of African American middle school boys through high-interest and activity-based Africentric lessons. The goal was to motivate black middle school males to strive for academic excellence. This goal was necessary in order to eliminate the problem of…

Among factors affecting African-American males' academic achievement, student/faculty relationships are vital. Using theory-based teaching strategies, faculty can support student success by designing in-class experiences to incorporate racial-identity development activities. The classroom should be a safe space for expression of personal…