A Case Study Examining the Experiences of an African-Centered Rites of Passage Program Within a Community Based Organization
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Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Graduate Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 2021 “UBUNTU” I am because we are: A case study examining the experiences of an African-centered Rites of Passage program within a community based organization Alade S. McKen Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd Recommended Citation McKen, Alade S., "“UBUNTU” I am because we are: A case study examining the experiences of an African- centered Rites of Passage program within a community based organization" (2021). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 18557. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/18557 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. “UBUNTU” I am because we are: A case study examining the experiences of an African- centered Rites of Passage program within a community-based organization by Alade Shola McKen A dissertation submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Major: Education Program of Study Committee: Katy Swalwell, Co-major Professor Julio Cammarota, Co-major Professor Isaac Gottesman Noreen Rodriguez Douglas Wieczorek The student author, whose presentation of the scholarship herein was approved by the program of study committee, is solely responsible for the content of this dissertation. The Graduate College will ensure this dissertation is globally accessible and will not permit alterations after a degree is conferred. Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2021 Copyright © Alade Shola McKen, 2021. All rights reserved. ii DEDICATION I dedicate this dissertation to my Grandmother NanaKen, Mildred Milly McKen, who was there every step of the way. I love you and couldn’t be more grateful to have you in my life. As I write this, you are 95 years young, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have you in my life, as you consistently remind me of the importance of family and what it is to love life unconditionally. I would also like to dedicate this to my mother, Iya Amma McKen, who taught me how to be free and embrace the richness of our history and the legacy of our people. I would also like to dedicate this to my sister Ayoka Wiles, my first teacher. I would not be who I am without your guidance and support. To my tribe, my beloved wife Sudhi, and my two little angels Asani and Sewa, the love I have for you is immeasurable. You all have made me a better Father, Husband, and Man. You all sacrificed so much to allow me to chase my dreams, and I hope that I can pour into you as much as you all have poured into me. I love you! iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................................................. vi ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................. viii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................................................. 6 Research Questions ...................................................................................................................... 8 Positionality Statement ................................................................................................................ 8 The Struggle of Making Meaning .......................................................................................... 10 An Outsider Within ................................................................................................................ 11 Summary .................................................................................................................................... 16 CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................................................... 18 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 18 Literature Search Strategy ......................................................................................................... 20 Afro-Centric Theory and Principles and Practices .................................................................... 20 The Concept of African Centeredness ....................................................................................... 21 African Epistemology ................................................................................................................ 24 The African Worldview ............................................................................................................. 27 African Principles and Practices and its Purpose ...................................................................... 29 Intended Outcomes of African Centered Practices .................................................................... 32 Intended Outcomes for Formal Education ............................................................................. 33 Intended Outcomes for Independent Education ..................................................................... 36 African Centered Pedagogy ....................................................................................................... 39 African Culture and Education .................................................................................................. 40 African Culture as an Integrated System ............................................................................... 46 Foundations of African Centered Pedagogy .............................................................................. 49 Cultural Nationalism and Social Movements’ Influence on African Centered Pedagogy ........ 51 Contemporary Practices in Community-Based Spaces ............................................................. 56 The Circle .............................................................................................................................. 56 Ubuntu – “I Am Because We Are” ........................................................................................ 59 The Role of the Circle and Ubuntu in African-Centered Pedagogy ...................................... 61 African Centered Pedagogy as Nation Building .................................................................... 63 Misinterpretations of African-Centered Pedagogy ................................................................ 66 Summary .................................................................................................................................... 69 CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................ 72 iv Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 72 The Case: Rites of Passage Program (ROP) .............................................................................. 73 Brief Description about the Site ............................................................................................. 73 Theoretical Foundations of Ilé-Ifẹ̀ ......................................................................................... 76 Program Goals ....................................................................................................................... 80 Participants ................................................................................................................................ 82 Sampling ................................................................................................................................ 82 Epistemological Assumptions ................................................................................................... 84 African Worldview ................................................................................................................ 85 African Epistemology ............................................................................................................ 86 Case Study Methodology ........................................................................................................... 87 Data Collection .......................................................................................................................... 89 Interview Structure .................................................................................................................... 92 Interview Stage One: Focused Life History .......................................................................... 92 Interview Stage Two: The Details of Experience .................................................................. 92 Interview Stage Three: Reflection on the Meaning ............................................................... 92 Length of Interviews .............................................................................................................. 93 Document Review .................................................................................................................