Afrocentric Education: What Does It Mean to Toronto’S Black Parents?

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Afrocentric Education: What Does It Mean to Toronto’S Black Parents? Afrocentric Education: What does it mean to Toronto’s Black parents? by Patrick Radebe M.Ed., University of Toronto, 2005 B.A. (Hons.), University of Toronto, 2000 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE AND POSTDOCTORAL STUDIES (Educational Studies) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) October 2017 Patrick Radebe, 2017 Abstract The miseducation of Black students attending Toronto metropolitan secondary schools, as evinced by poor grades and high dropout rates among the highest in Canada, begs the question of whether responsibility for this phenomenon lies with a public school system informed by a Eurocentric ethos. Drawing on Afrocentric Theory, this critical qualitative study examines Black parents’ perceptions of the Toronto Africentric Alternative School and Afrocentric education. Snowball sampling and ethnographic interviews, i.e., semi-structured interviews, were used to generate data. A total of 12 Black parents, three men and nine women, were interviewed over a 5-month period and data analyzed. It was found that while a majority of the respondents supported the Toronto Africentric Alternative School and Afrocentric education, some were ambivalent and others viewed the school and the education it provides as divisive and unnecessary. The research findings show that the majority of the participants were enamored with Afrocentricity, believing it to be a positive influence on Black lives. While they supported TAAS and AE, the minority, on the other hand, opposed the school and its educational model. The findings also revealed a Black community, divided between a majority seeking to preserve whatever remained of (their) African identity and a determined minority that viewed assimilation to be in the best interests of Black students. It is recommended that the school adopt antiracist education; that it appoints a spokesperson to field public inquiries to counter adverse perceptions of the school and its programs; that it fosters an on-going dialogue between its supporters and critics; and, most importantly, that it takes steps aimed at rebuilding relations among the stakeholders, i.e., the school, Black parents, the Toronto District School Board and the community. ii Lay Summary The view that mainstream Canadian and multicultural education is superior vis-à-vis colonial education, and in particular far more in inclusive in its orientation, has been challenged by Toronto’s Black parents, community activists, and Afrocentric scholars, who blame the former, in part, for the underachievement of Black students. This study examined how these parents perceive the Toronto Africentric Alternative School and Afrocentric education. It investigated, among other things, whether the latter could remedy the underperformance of Black students, as revealed in high dropout rates. In addition, it explored what role, if any, an African-centred education might play in addressing a crisis: the growing achievement gap in the public education system between White and Black students. iii Preface This dissertation is original, unpublished, independent work by Patrick Radebe. This study was approved by the UBC Behavioural Research Ethics Board on April 12, 2013. The ethics certificate is H13-00251. iv Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Lay Summary ..................................................................................................................... iii Preface ................................................................................................................................ iv Table of Contents .................................................................................................................v List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... ix List of Acronyms .................................................................................................................x Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ xi Dedication ........................................................................................................................ xiii Epigraph ........................................................................................................................... xiv Chapter 1. Introduction .................................................................................................1 1.1. The Researcher’s Positionality and Dilemmas .....................................1 1.2. Problem Statement ...............................................................................5 1.3. Statement of Purpose ............................................................................9 1.4. Research Objectives ...........................................................................10 1.5. Significance of the Study ...................................................................10 1.6. Organization of the Dissertation .........................................................11 Chapter 2. Literature Review ......................................................................................14 2.1. The Historical and Contemporary Education of Blacks .....................14 2.2. Colonial and Eurocentric Education in the Context of Black Education .................................................................................15 2.3. The School Curriculum as an Ideological Text ..................................25 2.4. Black Canadian Education: A Historical Overview ...........................31 2.5. Segregated Schools: Keeping Black Canadians “Uneducated” .........33 2.6. The Separate School Act (1850) and Segregated Education ..............35 2.7. Multicultural Education: What Is It? ..................................................38 2.8. Multicultural Education in Practice: White Teachers and Black Students’ Alienation ................................41 2.9. Black Students and Streaming ............................................................47 2.10. The School Curriculum and Eurocentric Knowledge ........................50 2.11. Multicultural Curriculum: Whose History Passes for Knowledge? ...52 2.12. Multicultural Education and Racist Representations .........................55 2.13. Black Students' Underperformance: Looking Beyond the Public School System .......................................58 2.14. Conclusion ..........................................................................................60 v Chapter 3. Afrocentric Theory: A Discursive Framework .......................................62 3.1. A Working Definition of Afrocentric Theory ....................................63 3.2. Du Bois, The “Concept of Race”: White Power and Separate Education ................................................64 3.3. Du Bois, Separate Schools and Education: The History ....................68 3.4. Black Education: The Challenges ......................................................70 3.5. Marcus Garvey: The Relationship Between Continental and Diasporic African Black as One People ...................71 3.6. Kwame Nkrumah and Pan-Africanism ..............................................78 3.7. Afrocentric Theory: The Civil Rights and Post-Civil Rights Period ..................................83 3.8. Afrocentric Theory: The Criticisms ...................................................87 3.9. Afrocentric Education: What Does It Mean and Why Is It Necessary? ..................................95 3.10. Afrocentricity and Afrocentric Education in the Context of Canadian Public Education ..............................................................103 3.11. Criticism of Dei and Afrocentric Education in Canada ...................106 3.12. The Toronto Africentric Alternative School: An Overview ............109 3.13. The Afrocentric Curriculum: An Overview .....................................111 3.14. The Toronto Africentric Alternative School: Staff and Governance .......................................................................112 3.15. Conclusion ........................................................................................113 Chapter 4. Research Methodology ............................................................................115 4.1. Research Paradigm: An Overview ...................................................115 4.2. The Researcher’s Paradigm ..............................................................116 4.3. Qualitative Methodologies: An Overview .......................................120 4.4. Critical Ethnography: An Overview .................................................122 4.5. Critical Ethnographic Research: Problematizing Power and Oppression ............................................122 4.6. Research Methods ............................................................................124 4.6.1. Data Collection ...................................................................124 4.6.2. Participant Recruitment and Selection ................................125 4.7. In-Depth/Semi-Structured Interview ................................................127 4.8. The Participants ................................................................................130 4.8.1. Abena (Project Manager) ....................................................130 4.8.2. Amma (Creative
Recommended publications
  • Teaching About Africa South of the Sahara; a Guide and Resource Packet for Ninth Grade Social Studies
    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 042 667 SO 000 190 AUTHOR Coburn, Barbara; And Others TITLE Teaching About Africa South of the Sahara; A Guide and Resource Packet for Ninth Grade Social Studies. INSTITUTION State Univ. of New York, Albany. SPONS AGENCY New York State Education Dept., Albany. Bureau of Secondary Curriculum Development. PUB DATE 70 NOTE 285p. EDRS PRICE EDRS Price MF-$1.25 HC-$14.35 DESCRIPTORS African Culture, *African History, Case Studies, Concept Teaching, *Grade 9, *Inductive Methods, Inquiry Training, Instructional Materials, Multimedia Instruction, *Resource Materials, Secondary Grades, Social Change, Social Studies Units, *Teaching Guides, Urbanization ABSTRACT This guide provides a sampling of reference materials which are pertinent for two ninth grade units: Africa South of the Sahara: Land and People, and Africa South of the Sahara: Historic Trends. The effect of urbanization upon traditional tribalistic cultures is the focus. A case study is used to encourage an inductive approach to the learning process. It is based upon the first hand accounts of Jomo Kenyatta and Mugo Gatheru as they grew up within the traditions of their ethnic group --the Kikuyu of Kenya. Materials using the "mystery story" approach are included for an analysis of the iron age culture at Zimbabwe. The case study package purposely does not go into detail on such steps as the identification of theme and the determination of procedures to encourage individualization. The latter part of the guide is arranged as a reference section by subtopic or understanding including questions suggesting the direction of inquiry, and pertinent reading selections, diagrams, maps and drawings. Finally, an annotated bibliography lists materials that are currently in print or available through regional libraries.
    [Show full text]
  • Kwame Nkrumah and the Pan- African Vision: Between Acceptance and Rebuttal
    Austral: Brazilian Journal of Strategy & International Relations e-ISSN 2238-6912 | ISSN 2238-6262| v.5, n.9, Jan./Jun. 2016 | p.141-164 KWAME NKRUMAH AND THE PAN- AFRICAN VISION: BETWEEN ACCEPTANCE AND REBUTTAL Henry Kam Kah1 Introduction The Pan-African vision of a United of States of Africa was and is still being expressed (dis)similarly by Africans on the continent and those of Afri- can descent scattered all over the world. Its humble origins and spread is at- tributed to several people based on their experiences over time. Among some of the advocates were Henry Sylvester Williams, Marcus Garvey and George Padmore of the diaspora and Peter Abrahams, Jomo Kenyatta, Sekou Toure, Julius Nyerere and Kwame Nkrumah of South Africa, Kenya, Guinea, Tanza- nia and Ghana respectively. The different pan-African views on the African continent notwithstanding, Kwame Nkrumah is arguably in a class of his own and perhaps comparable only to Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. Pan-Africanism became the cornerstone of his struggle for the independence of Ghana, other African countries and the political unity of the continent. To transform this vision into reality, Nkrumah mobilised the Ghanaian masses through a pop- ular appeal. Apart from his eloquent speeches, he also engaged in persuasive writings. These writings have survived him and are as appealing today as they were in the past. Kwame Nkrumah ceased every opportunity to persuasively articulate for a Union Government for all of Africa. Due to his unswerving vision for a Union Government for Africa, the visionary Kwame Nkrumah created a microcosm of African Union through the Ghana-Guinea and then Ghana-Guinea-Mali Union.
    [Show full text]
  • Economic Ascendance Is/As Moral Rightness: the New Religious Political Right in Post-Apartheid South Africa Part
    Economic Ascendance is/as Moral Rightness: The New Religious Political Right in Post-apartheid South Africa Part One: The Political Introduction If one were to go by the paucity of academic scholarship on the broad New Right in the post-apartheid South African context, one would not be remiss for thinking that the country is immune from this global phenomenon. I say broad because there is some academic scholarship that deals only with the existence of right wing organisations at the end of the apartheid era (du Toit 1991, Grobbelaar et al. 1989, Schönteich 2004, Schönteich and Boshoff 2003, van Rooyen 1994, Visser 2007, Welsh 1988, 1989,1995, Zille 1988). In this older context, this work focuses on a number of white Right organisations, including their ideas of nationalism, the role of Christianity in their ideologies, as well as their opposition to reform in South Africa, especially the significance of the idea of partition in these organisations. Helen Zille’s list, for example, includes the Herstigte Nasionale Party, Conservative Party, Afrikaner People’s Guard, South African Bureau of Racial Affairs (SABRA), Society of Orange Workers, Forum for the Future, Stallard Foundation, Afrikaner Resistance Movement (AWB), and the White Liberation Movement (BBB). There is also literature that deals with New Right ideology and its impact on South African education in the transition era by drawing on the broader literature on how the New Right was using education as a primary battleground globally (Fataar 1997, Kallaway 1989). Moreover, another narrow and newer literature exists that continues the focus on primarily extreme right organisations in South Africa that have found resonance in the global context of the rise of the so-called Alternative Right that rejects mainstream conservatism.
    [Show full text]
  • Freedomways Magazine, Black Leftists, and Continuities in the Freedom Movement
    Bearing the Seeds of Struggle: Freedomways Magazine, Black Leftists, and Continuities in the Freedom Movement Ian Rocksborough-Smith BA, Simon Fraser University, 2003 THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS In the Department of History O Ian Rocksborough-Smith 2005 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Summer 2005 All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. APPROVAL Name: Ian Rocksborough-Smith Degree: Masters of Arts Title of Thesis: Bearing the Seeds of Struggle: Freedomways Magazine, Black Leftists, and Continuities in the Freedom Movement Examining Committee: Chair: Dr. John Stubbs ProfessorIDepartment of History Dr. Karen Ferguson Senior Supervisor Associate ProfessorIDepartment of History Dr. Mark Leier Supervisor Associate ProfessorIDepartment of History Dr. David Chariandy External ExaminerISimon Fraser University Assistant ProfessorIDepartment of English Date DefendedlApproved: Z.7; E0oS SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY PARTIAL COPYRIGHT LICENCE The author, whose copyright is declared on the title page of this work, has granted to Simon Fraser University the right to lend this thesis, project or extended essay to users of the Simon Fraser University Library, and to make partial or single copies only for such users or in response to a request from the library of any other university, or other educational institution, on its own behalf or for one of its users. The author has further granted permission to Simon Fraser University to keep or make a digital copy for use in its circulating collection. The author has further agreed that permission for multiple copying of this work for scholarly purposes may be granted by either the author or the Dean of Graduate Studies.
    [Show full text]
  • Africa Regional Workshop, Cape Town South Africa, 27 to 30 June 2016
    Africa Regional Workshop, Cape Town South Africa, 27 to 30 June 2016 Report Outline 1. Introduction, and objectives of the workshop 2. Background and Approach to the workshop 3. Selection criteria and Preparation prior to the workshop 4. Attending the National Health Assembly 5. Programme/Agenda development 6. Workshop proceedings • 27 June‐Overview of research, historical context of ill health‐ campaigning and advocacy 28 June‐Capacity building and field visit • June‐ Knowledge generation and dissemination and policy dialogue • June‐ Movement building and plan of action 7. Outcomes of the workshop and follow up plans 8. Acknowledgements Introduction and Objectives of the workshop People’s Health Movement (PHM) held an Africa Regional workshop/International People’s Health University which took place from the 27th to 30 June 2016 at the University of Western Cape (UWC), Cape Town, South Africa. It was attended by approximately 35 PHM members from South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Benin and Eritrea. The workshop was organised within the framework of the PHM / International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Research project on Civil Society Engagement for Health for All. Objectives for the workshop A four day regional workshop/IPHU took place in Cape Town South Africa at the University of Western Cape, School of Public Health. The objectives of the workshop included: • sharing the results of the action research on civil society engagement in the struggle for Health For All which took place in South Africa and DRC; • to learn more about the current forms/experiences of mobilisation for health in Africa; • to reflect together on challenges in movement building (e.g.
    [Show full text]
  • 18. EPC Occasional Paper 5
    EPC OCCASIONAL PAPER 5 OCCASIONAL PAPER EDUCATION AND THE FREEDOM CHARTER A Critical Appraisal What the Freedom Charter says The Doors of Learning and Culture Shall be Opened! The government shall discover, develop and encourage national talent for the enhancement of our cultural life; All the cultural treasures of mankind shall be open to all, by free exchange of books, ideas and contact with other lands; The aim of education shall be to teach the youth to love their people and their culture, to honour human brotherhood, liberty and peace; Education shall be free, compulsory, universal and equal for all children; Higher education and technical training shall be opened to all by means of state allowances and scholarships awarded on the basis of merit; Adult illiteracy shall be ended by a mass state education plan; Teachers shall have all the rights of other citizens; The colour bar in cultural life, in sport and in education shall be abolished. 1 EDUCATION AND THE FREEDOM CHARTER EPC OCCASIONAL PAPER 5 1 This paper first appeared as chapter 7 in the publication ‘60 YEARS OF THE FREEDOM CHARTER No cause to celebrate for the working class’ Published by Workers’ World Media Productions Tel: +27 (21) 4472727 Email: Lynn@wwmp. org.za Acknowledgements Research and Writing: Dale Mc Kinley (and previous publication, 50 Years of the Freedom Charter – A Cause to Celebrate? – Michael Blake). Project co-ordination, Editing and Proofreading: Martin Jansen Design and Layout: Nicolas Dieltiens Pictures and Graphics: Mayibuye Centre, Ilrig, Eric Miller, Oryx Media Cartoons contributed by Jonathan Shapiro (“Zapiro”) EPC OCCASIONAL PAPER 5 July 2015 Adapted by: Salim Vally (CERT) Design and layout: Mudney Halim (CERT) Cover design and EPC logo: Nomalizo Ngwenya Telephone: +27 11 482 3060 Email: [email protected] EDUCATION AND THE FREEDOM CHARTER Website: www.educatiopolicyconsortium.org.za EPC OCCASIONAL PAPER 5 2 Apartheid and education The overall impact was severe.
    [Show full text]
  • East African Community
    EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY _____________ IN THE EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (EALA) The Official Report of the Proceedings of the East African Legislative Assembly 135TH SITTING - THIRD ASSEMBLY: SIXTH MEETING – FOURTH SESSION SPECIAL SITTING Thursday, 31 May 2015 The East African Legislative Assembly met at 3:50 p.m. in the in the Chamber of the Assembly, EAC Headquarters, in Arusha, Tanzania. EAC ANTHEM PRAYER (The Speaker, Mr. Daniel .F. Kidega, in the Chair.) (The Assembly was called to order) ___________________________________________________________________________ the Assembly notwithstanding that he or she COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR is not a member of the Assembly if in his or her opinion, the business of the Assembly The Speaker: Honourable members, renders his or her presence desirable; amidst us today are Their Excellences, Mama Ngina Kenyatta, former First Lady AND WHEREAS in the opinion of the of the Republic of Kenya and Mama Miria Speaker, the attendance and presence in the Obote, former First Lady of the Republic of Assembly of the former First Ladies of the Uganda. Republic of Kenya and the Republic of Uganda is desirable in accordance with the I have, in accordance with the provisions of business before the Assembly; Article 54 of the Treaty, invited them to address this Assembly. I now would like to NOW THEREFORE it is with great make the following proclamation to pleasure and honour, on your behalf welcome their presence in the Assembly. honourable members, to welcome the former First Ladies of the Republic of
    [Show full text]
  • South Africa 2
    The Atlantic Philanthropies South Africa 2 Honjiswa Raba enjoysThe the new auditorium of the Isivivana Centre.Atlantic Raba is head of human resources Philanthropies for Equal Education, a Centre tenant, and is a trustee of the Khayelitsha Youth & Community Centre Trust, the governing body of Isivivana. Foreword 5 Preface 9 Summary 13 South Africa 22 Grantee Profiles 89 Black Sash and Community Advice Offices 91 Legal Resources Centre 96 University of the Western Cape 101 Lawyers for Human Rights 108 Umthombo Youth Development Foundation 113 Archives and the Importance of Memory 117 Nursing Schools and Programmes 125 Health Care Systems 131 LGBTI Rights 135 Social Justice Coalition 138 Equal Education 143 Isivivana Centre 147 Lessons 154 Acknowledgements 175 Throughout this book, the term “black” is used as it is defined in the South African Constitution. This means that it includes Africans, coloureds and Indians, the apartheid-era definitions of South Africa’s major race groups. The Atlantic Philanthropies South Africa BY RYLAND FISHER President Cyril Ramaphosa met with Chuck Feeney in Johannesburg in 2005 when they discussed their involvement in the Northern Ireland peace process. Ramphosa was elected president of South Africa by Parliament in February 2018. DEDICATION Charles Francis Feeney, whose generosity and vision have improved the lives of millions in South Africa and across the globe IN MEMORIAM Gerald V Kraak (1956–2014), a champion of human rights and Atlantic’s longest serving staff member in South Africa Students “No matter how some of the visit the Constitutional Court at ideals have been difficult Constitution Hill. to achieve and get a bit frayed around the edges, South Africans still achieved its transition to democracy in, I think, one of the most extraordinary ways in human history.” Christine Downton, former Atlantic Board member 5 South Africa Foreword he Atlantic Philanthropies are known for making big bets, and it’s fair to say that the foundation was making a very large wager when T it began investing in South Africa in the early 1990s.
    [Show full text]
  • An Afrocentric Case Study Policy Analysis of Florida Statute 1003.42(H) CHIKE AKUA Georgia State University
    Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University Educational Policy Studies Dissertations Department of Educational Policy Studies Fall 1-6-2017 The Life of a Policy: An Afrocentric Case Study Policy Analysis of Florida Statute 1003.42(h) CHIKE AKUA Georgia State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/eps_diss Recommended Citation AKUA, CHIKE, "The Life of a Policy: An Afrocentric Case Study Policy Analysis of Florida Statute 1003.42(h)." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2017. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/eps_diss/155 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Educational Policy Studies at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Educational Policy Studies Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ACCEPTANCE This dissertation, THE LIFE OF A POLICY: AN AFROCENTRIC CASE STUDY POLICY ANALYSIS OF FLORIDA STATUTE 1003.42(H), by CHIKE AKUA, was prepared under the direction of the candidate’s Dissertation Advisory Committee. It is accepted by the committee members in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Education and Human Development, Georgia State University. The Dissertation Advisory Committee and the student’s Department Chair, as representatives of the faculty, certify that this dissertation has met all standards of excellence and scholarship as determined by the faculty. _________________________________ _________________________________ Joyce E. King, Ph.D. Janice Fournillier, Ph.D. Committee Chair Committee Member _________________________________ _________________________________ Kristen Buras, Ph.D. Akinyele Umoja, Ph.D. Committee Member Committee Member _________________________________ Date _________________________________ William Curlette, Ph.D.
    [Show full text]
  • Determinants of Perinatal Outcomes Among Women Seeking
    DETERMINANTS OF PERINATAL OUTCOMES AMONG WOMEN SEEKING ANTENATAL CARE IN SELECTED KISII COUNTY LEVEL FOUR HEALTH FACILITIES IN THE CONTEXT OF FREE MATERNITY CARE. MICAH ONYIEGO MATIANG’I DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Public Health) JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY 2018 Determinants of Perinatal Outcomes Among Women Seeking Antenatal Care in Selected Kisii County Level Four Health Facilities in the Context of Free Maternity Care. Micah Onyiego Matiang’i A thesis submitted in fulfillment for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health in the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology 2018 DECLARATION This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other university Signature………………………………… Date……………………………… Micah Onyiego Matiang’i This thesis has been submitted for examination with our approval as University Supervisors: Signature……………………………… Date……………………………… Prof. Simon Karanja, P.h.D JKUAT, Kenya0 Signature…………………………… Date……………………………… Dr. Peter Wanzala, P.h.D KEMRI, Kenya Signature…………………………… Date……………………………… Dr. Kenneth Ngure, P.h.D JKUAT, Kenya ii DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my beloved parents, wife and children for their social, moral and spiritual support through prayers. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I sincerely thank God for leading me this far. I do appreciate the team of the three supervisors who have been resourceful all along; Prof. Simon Karanja and Dr.Kenneth Ngure from School of Public Health, Jomo Kenyatta University and Dr. Peter Wanzala from the Centre of Public Health and Research (CPHR) located in Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). I do also appreciate the members of staff from the Institute of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases (ITROMID) for their support too.
    [Show full text]
  • Resurrecting the Educational Praxis of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, 1875-1950 by Jarvis R
    Culture, Curriculum, and Consciousness: Resurrecting the Educational Praxis of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, 1875-1950 By Jarvis R. Givens A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in African American Studies in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in Charge: Professor Ula Y. Taylor, Chair Professor Na’ilah Suad Nasir Professor Daniel H. Perlstein Spring 2016 Culture, Curriculum, and Consciousness: Resurrecting the Educational Praxis of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, 1875-1950 © 2016 by Jarvis R. Givens Abstract Culture, Curriculum, and Consciousness: Resurrecting the Educational Praxis of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, 1875-1950 by Jarvis Ray Givens Doctor of Philosophy in African American Studies University of California, Berkeley Professor Ula Y. Taylor, Chair While Black educational history generally centers the infamous debate between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois, this dissertation re-conceptualizes this framing through an innovative exploration of the work of Dr. Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950). Culture, Curriculum, and Consciousness analyzes Woodson’s argument that the ideological foundations of schools relied on a human history of the world that centered Whiteness and distorted the humanity of Black people. He not only advocated for a transformation that would supplant the ideological stronghold White supremacy had on Black education, but he simultaneously created an alternative model that centered Black humanity and cultural achievements. Coupling archival methods with critical text analysis and coding schemes, I examine how Woodson institutionalized his educational praxis through the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), self- published textbooks, and his close relationship with Black teacher networks.
    [Show full text]
  • Haiti Unbound a Spiralist Challenge to the Postcolonial Canon H
    HAITI UNBOUND A SPIRALIST CHALLENGE TO THE POSTCOLONIAL CANON H Both politically and in the fields of art and literature, Haiti has long been relegated to the margins of the so-called ‘New World’. Marked by exceptionalism, the voices of some of its AITI most important writers have consequently been muted by the geopolitical realities of the nation’s fraught history. In Haiti Unbound, Kaiama L. Glover offers a close look at the works of three such writers: the Haitian Spiralists Frankétienne, Jean-Claude Fignolé, and René Philoctète. While Spiralism has been acknowledged by scholars and regional writer- intellectuals alike as a crucial contribution to the French-speaking Caribbean literary tradition, the Spiralist ethic-aesthetic has not yet been given the sustained attention of a full-length U study. Glover’s book represents the first effort in any language to consider the works of the three Spiralist authors both individually and collectively, and so fills an astonishingly empty NBO place in the assessment of postcolonial Caribbean aesthetics. Touching on the role and destiny of Haiti in the Americas, Haiti Unbound engages with long- standing issues of imperialism and resistance culture in the transatlantic world. Glover’s timely project emphatically articulates Haiti’s regional and global centrality, combining vital ‘big picture’ reflections on the field of postcolonial studies with elegant analyses of the U philosophical perspective and creative practice of a distinctively Haitian literary phenomenon. Most importantly, perhaps, the book advocates for the inclusion of three largely unrecognized ND voices in the disturbingly fixed roster of writer-intellectuals who have thus far interested theorists of postcolonial (francophone) literature.
    [Show full text]