Examined family racial socialization and ecological competence during childhood and adolescence in a sample of 88 African-American transracial adoptees and their families. Longitudinal path analyses indicated that Eurocentric reference group orientation (RGO) increased over time while Africentric RGO declined for the adoptees, and maladjustment…

Describes a school-based, Afrocentric program that prepares African American males to use the educational opportunities available to them. Discusses the program's theoretical premises and offers a report on program effectiveness. Looks at cultural issues, methodology, program design, and outlines the importance of this type of program. (RJM)

This collection of papers includes: (1) "An Assessment-Intervention Model for Research and Practice with Multicultural Populations" (Richard H. Dana); (2) "An Africentric Perspective for Clinical Research and Practice" (Edward F. Morris); (3) "Myths about the Null Hypothesis and the Path to Reform" (Robert G.…

Develops a brief instrument designed to assess several dimensions of racial identity appropriate for African American adults with low literacy skills. Analysis shows the instrument has moderate internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and is appropriate for low literacy skills. It also taps five independent domains: recognition of racism;…

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…

An empirical summary of 33 studies considers the relationship between racial group orientation and self-concept of an individual. This issue represents a fundamental assumption of afrocentric education practices, that the racial group orientation of the individual is related to the self-esteem of the individual. The results demonstrate a positive…

Black intellectuals and writers were invited to write essays on assimilation, race, and identity, using a famous quotation from W. E. B. Du Bois about the double soul of the American Negro as a point of departure. Considering the double consciousness of which Du Bois wrote resulted in the following essays: (1) "Free at Last? A Personal…

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…

This paper reports on the third year of a longitudinal evaluation of the Visions for Children preschool program. An early childhood education demonstration program, the Visions program aims to facilitate the intellectual development and academic achievement of African American preschool children while strengthening their self-esteem and identity…

In this study, the authors examined (a) the protective potential of multiple components of ethnic and racial identity and (b) the aspects of an Africentric orientation for moderating psychobehavioral risk and protective factors for drug use among a sample of 333 urban low-income African American young adults. Ethnic and racial identity and…

The cultural compatibility hypothesis suggests that black children attending an Afrocentric school (the culturally compatible condition) should have more positive outcomes, as indicated by ethnic identity, future expectations, and optimism, than black adolescents in a mainstream school (cultural incompatibility condition). Adolescents from an…

Analyzes the perceptions and expectations of 35 African-American parents regarding African-American independent schooling, using the framework of M. K. Asante (1980). Interviews with these parents suggest that Afrocentrism is a process of individual transformation. More African-American parents are looking at schooling in broader social contexts.…

Examined the interaction of social class and racial identity in urban school reform. Presents a case study of reform at one urban California high school which used an Afrocentric curriculum to help improve academic performance, arguing that the effort was ineffective because it failed to consider ways in which poverty influenced the identities of…

Group counseling with female African American university students on a predominantly white campus is examined. An Afrocentric group approach and practical opportunities for counselor trainees and facilitators are presented. (Author)

Argues for the establishment of "African-centered" schools on an experimental basis, in direct consultation and partnership with students, educators, administrators, and the local community. Maintains that most mainstream public schools reinforce concepts and values of the dominant culture and alienate students of color. (MJP)