Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University African-American Studies Theses Department of African-American Studies 4-26-2010 Voices of the Earth: A Phenomenological Study of Women in the Nation of Gods and Earths Ahmon J. Keiler-Bradshaw Georgia State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/aas_theses Part of the African American Studies Commons Recommended Citation Keiler-Bradshaw, Ahmon J., "Voices of the Earth: A Phenomenological Study of Women in the Nation of Gods and Earths." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2010. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/aas_theses/2 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of African-American Studies at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in African-American Studies Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. VOICES OF THE EARTH: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF WOMEN IN THE NATION OF GODS AND EARTHS by AHMON J. KEILER-BRADSHAW Under the Direction of Dr. Cora Presley ABSTRACT Historically, Black women have often been excluded from the discussion on leadership. This thesis argues that the leadership roles of the women in the Nation of Gods and Earths are consis- tent with the concepts of both Africana womanism and Black women’s leadership. However, through an analysis of Earth’s oral testimonies, this research concludes that though racism is the most pervading obstacle faced by Black people, The Nation of Gods and Earths must address and reevaluate the sexism that exists within its doctrine and practice. By doing so, the group can be- gin to recognize Black women’s leadership and utilize it more effectively. The Nation should collectively transform its gender inequality, in a way that does not compromise its culture, as a means of successfully sustaining and strengthening itself and the communities of which it serves. INDEX WORDS: Nation of Gods and Earths, Five Percenters, Leadership, Leadership roles, Black women’s leadership, Africana Womanism, Womanism. VOICES OF THE EARTH: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF WOMEN IN THE NATION OF GODS AND EARTHS by AHMON J. KEILER-BRADSHAW A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Arts in the College of Arts and Sciences Georgia State University May 2010 Copyright by AHMON J. KEILER-BRADSHAW 2010 VOICES OF THE EARTH: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF WOMEN IN THE NATION OF GODS AND EARTHS by AHMON J. KEILER-BRADSHAW Committee Chair: Dr. Cora Presley Committee: Dr. Cora Presley Dr. Sarita Davis Dr. Layli Phillips Maparyan Electronic Version Approved: Office of Graduate Studies College of Arts and Sciences Georgia State University May 2010 iv DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to the Original Woman of the earth. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I wish to acknowledge the One Source of which my beloved elder, Baba Medaho- chi Zannu, called “The Ultimate Reality.” I wish to acknowledge the forces of nature, which were born from that Source. I acknowledge my Ancestors, parents, and all my living family and friends. I acknowledge all the elders who have provided me guidance. I wish to acknowledge the Earths who participated in this research. I would like to acknowledge the African-American Studies Department at Georgia State University. I would like to give special thanks to my com- mittee members, Dr. Davis, Dr. Maparyan, and Dr. Presley, for all of their guidance, patience, and constructive criticism. Finally, I must thank Dr. Denise Davison for all of her positive af- firmations, expertise on Black women’s leadership, and friendship. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................................... v CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………..1 BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM........................................................................................................ 3 BACKGROUND OF THE NATION OF GODS AND EARTHS ............................................................... 3 PROBLEM STATEMENT ......................................................................................................................... 20 PURPOSE ................................................................................................................................................... 21 SIGNIFIGANCEOF THE STUDY............................................................................................................. 22 NATURE OF THE STUDY ....................................................................................................................... 24 RESEARCH QUESTIONS......................................................................................................................... 25 DESIGN ...................................................................................................................................................... 25 RESEARCH STATEMENT ....................................................................................................................... 26 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK .............................................................................................................. 26 DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................................................ 29 ASSUMPTIONS ......................................................................................................................................... 30 SCOPE, LIMITATIONS, AND DELIMITATIONS.................................................................................. 31 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................ 32 CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ..................................................................................... 33 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................... 33 DEFINING BLACK WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP……………………………………...…………………33 THE HISTORY OF BLACK WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP......................................................................... 38 vii WOMANISM AND AFRICANAWOMANISM........................................................................................ 55 LITERATURE ON THE EARTHS ............................................................................................................ 62 SUMMARY……………………………………………………………………………………………….69 CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODS .................................................................................................... 71 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................... 71 DESIGN ...................................................................................................................................................... 73 POPULATION............................................................................................................................................ 74 SAMPLING ................................................................................................................................................ 75 DATA COLLECTION................................................................................................................................ 77 DATA ANALYSIS..................................................................................................................................... 78 VALIDITY THREATS............................................................................................................................... 79 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................ 80 CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS........................................................................................................................... 81 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………………...81 THE PARTICIPANTS................................................................................................................................ 83 OVERVIEW OF THE FINDINGS............................................................................................................. 90 TABLE 1…………………………………………………………………………………………………..99 SUMMARY .............................................................................................................................................. 113 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND LIMITATIONS…………..………..115 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………………….....115 CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSIONS………………………………………………………………...116 viii RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................................................................... 131 RESEARCHER’S POSSIBLE LIMITATIONS ....................................................................................... 133 SUMMARY .............................................................................................................................................. 134 EPILOGUE ............................................................................................................................................... 136 SUGGESTIONS FOR PROGRESSION .................................................................................................