AFRICENTRIC EDUCATION

"The African centered education campaign is related to the chronic failure of the education system to provide equal educational results and opportunities for African Americans." Jacob Carruthers

African Centered Education is a system of sequentially planned educational opportunities provided for African heritage children to develop the necessary and required skills to participate in the global marketplace with specific interest on the upliftment and empowerment of their African-American communities and the total development and growth of the African continent. - Dr. E. Curtis Alexander

Symbol of KNOWLEDGE, LIFE-LONG EDUCATION, and CONTINUED QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE. Literal translation: He who does not know can become knowledgeable from learning; he who thinks he knows and ceases to continue to learn will stagnate. The Akan believe that the search for knowledge is a life-long process. The symbol “nea onnim” incorporates this view of learning and knowledge.
(DEPARTMENT OF AFRICANA AND PUERTO RICAN-LATINO STUDIES - http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/blpr/index.html)

This new edition of THE AFROCENTRIC IDEA boldly confronts the contemporary challenges that have been launched against Molefi Kete Asante's philosophical, social, and cultural theory. Expanding on his core ideas, Asante recasts his original ideas in the tradition of provocative critiques of the established social order. This is a fresh and dynamic location of culture within the context of social change. 256 p.

Nationbuilding:
Theory and practice in Afrikan-centered education
Kwame Agyei Akoto
Improving Schools for African American Students: A Reader for Educational Leaders provides education leaders with access to critical ideas, research, and knowledge across a broad range of educational issues that affect the successful schooling of African American children and youth. The articles that make up this book discuss generic education issues such as policy reform, the importance of high-quality teaching, and the improvement of schools from the perspective of the academic achievement of African American students. They explore the need to identify and redress policies and practices that hinder African American student achievement. They discuss effective teacher training programs, both pre-service and in-service, that focus on the academic and the ethical, social, political, and cultural dimensions of teaching African American students. These articles explore educational programs that build on the strengths that African American students bring to school, as well as how to create these programs in a wide variety of school settings, ranging from schools that serve predominantly African American students to schools in which African American students are a small percentage of the total school population.

The Failure of Public Education in the Black Community
Anyim Palmer;
I sincerely trust that the message this book conveys will somehow be heard. The message of course, is that it can be conclusively demonstrated, as well as documented, that the American public school is and has been for generations wreaking havoc upon the Black/African race. Tragically, little is being done to counter this documented destruction. In this regard, it can in truth be said that the Black/African race in a sense, is a party in a second negative history. The first negative history of course, was the slave trade. The second negative history is the manner in which the Black/African race so blandly tolerated the wicked, brutal and satanic trade in the flesh of our beloved ancestors. Should there be a "doubting Thomas" among you, simply consult the test scores of our young people that appear each year in various media. They are appalling and criminal, and demonstrate beyond contention that the American public school is the primary destructor of our once great race. Should this publication fail to bring light to our people, we are indeed doomed. In summary, we must build our own schools and educate our own.

The Crisis and Challenge of
Black Mis-Education in America
Gyasi A. Foluke;
After a brief historical overview of "education," beginning with chattel slavery, the author examines the desegregation-"re-segregation" record since the Brown decision of 1954. Accordingly, he reviews many educational factors--test scores, the Euro-centric curriculum, student "tracking," behavior violations, the predominance of White teachers and related system features--in the context of alleged Black student under-achievement under two ideological mindsets, the "system deficit" and the "victim deficit" models. Subsequently, he analyzes multiple underlying causes of alleged Black under-achievement--the critically important "Polyglot Factor" or the failure to recognize the uniqueness of "the Black experience" in developing educational strategies, Black socioeconomic conditions, a racist political hierarchy at all levels of government, unequal school funding, mis-educated Black or "kneegro" professionals who become "paycheck slaves" (Porter, 1997), inadequate professional development-training for teachers, especially in relation to Black heritage-culture, low teacher-administrator expectations, the misuse of drugs on students (including Ritalin) and multiple other factors.

African-Centered Schooling
in Theory and Practice:
Diane S. Pollard;
Given the increasing interest in African-centered education as a viable alternative educational strategy, the present study, growing out of the African American Immersion Schools Evaluation Project, provides an important demonstration of the movement from theoretical discussions of the potential benefits of African-centered education to its practice and measurable outcomes in urban public schools. The similarities between Milwaukee and other urban schools districts indicate that the findings from this study should have wide applicability

African Centered Interdisciplinary
Multi Level Hands-On Science:
Preprimary-8Th Grade
Bernida Thompson;
Adults will find reading this guide extremely interesting with GREAT discussion topics for any group! Finally – an innovative guide to teachers and students that fulfills all requirements for the nucleus of a science program. The purpose of this book is to provide a successfully proven hands—on science program for schools, homes, and youth organizations. The focus on this science program places the foundation of science in its rightful place, Africa, as documented by the study of history, paleontology, archaeology, and anthropology. Relevant hands-on experiences are given through twelve complete modules of easy to set up activities and student worksheets.

With the arrival of the No Child Left Behind act, the so-called "racial achievement gap" has attracted more concern and controversy than ever before. According to this timely analysis, the myth of the racial achievement gap has nothing to do with genetics—and everything to do a host of embarrassing yet reversible social and pedagogical failures, including low teacher expectations, unrealistic time tables for learning goals, irrelevant curricula, ineffectual teaching methods, careless administrators, poor parental involvement, negative peer groups, and self-esteem issues. For every problem raised, the text offers a level-headed solution, culminating in a plan for closing the supposed racial achievement gap for good.

Why Darkness Matters represents the work of a group of African-American neuroscientists whose scholarship presses the Boundaries of what call “fearless studies”

The Education of Black People
by W. E. B. Du Bois, Herbert Aptheker
Undoubtedly the most influential black intellectual of the twentieth century and one of America's finest historians, W.E.B. DuBois knew that the liberation of the African American people required liberal education and not vocational training. He saw education as a process of teaching certain timeless values: moderation, an avoidance of luxury, a concern for courtesy, a capacity to endure, a nurturing love for beauty. At the same time, DuBois saw education as fundamentally subversive. This was as much a function of the well-established role of education-from Plato forward-as the realities of the social order under which he lived. He insistently calls for great energy and initiative; for African Americans controlling their own lives and for continued experimentation and innovation, while keeping education's fundamentally radical nature in view.
Though containing speeches written nearly one-hundred years ago, and on a subject that has seen more stormy debate and demagoguery than almost any other in recent history, The Education of Black People approaches education with a timelessness and timeliness, at once rooted in classical thought that reflects a remarkably fresh and contemporary relevance.

Sailing Against the Wind:
African Americans and Women in U.S. Education ,
Kofi Lomotey, editor

Experienced American educators discuss the impact of social inequalities created by racism and sexism on the U.S. educational system. Sailing Against the Wind addresses the issue of inequality in U.S. education. The book includes exemplary programs to show where educators are addressing problems of racial and gender inequity. The authors are experienced practitioners who work in the educational institutions that they describe and analyze. The consistent theme is that only through political opposition to the status quo and through a demand for social justice will the system change, will inequities be eliminated, and will existing power relationships in society be altered.

African American Males in School and Society:
Practices and Policies for Effective Education
Vernon C. Polite;
At last, a comprehensive look at the most salient issues that affect the future of African American men. This book provides much more than a ray of hope, it is replete with recommendations and practices that, if implemented, will positively impact educational and social outcomes. Every educator and parent who grapples with the dilemma of educating Black boys and young men should read this book.

School administrations serious about addressing the underachievement and underdevelopment of African American boys and youths will find in this book theoretical and methodological approaches (e.g., practical, just-in-time strategies for implementation). This book will empower readers who are committed to equity and excellence for African American male students in elementary and secondary schools

American educators have largely failed to recognize the crucial significance of culture in the education of African-American children, contends Janice E. Hale in the revised edition of her groundbreaking work, Black Children. As African-American children are acculturated at home and in the African-American community, they develop cognitive patterns and behaviors that may prove incompatible with the school environment. Cultural factors produce group differences that must be addressed in the educational process. Drawing on the fields of anthropology, sociology, history, and psychology, Hale explores the effects of African-American culture on a child's intellectual devlopment and suggests curricular reforms that would allow African-American children to develop their intelligence, pursue their strengths, and succeed in school and at work.

E ducating our Black Children :
New Directions and Radical Approaches (Studies in Inclusive Education)
Richard Majors;
"It is well established that many young black pupils are being excluded from mainstream education. Although social exclusion is a major issue in the government's education policy, recent initiatives and programmes have been criticised for being colour-blind and failing to place targets on areas such as black exclusions. This book goes beyond traditional research and policy analysis by providing actual approaches and programmes. This collection of essays from distinguished UK and US contributors focuses on positive social inclusion policy and practice. Themes covered include: mentoring schemes and how to evaluate mentoring; masculine identity; rites of passage programmes and manhood training; black supplementary schools; and African-centred knowledge systems."

Unbank the Fire:
Visions for the Education of African American Children
by Janice E. Hale
Hale (early childhood education, Wayne State U.) further develops the theses of her earlier book, Black Children, and argues that African American culture should be considered in designing educational practice for African American children. She analyzes the historical context of upward mobility, discusses the cultural milieu that provides the framework for African American values and behavior, and describes an early childhood demonstration program.

Sba the Reawakening of the African Mind
Asa G., III Hilliard;
"SBA: The Reawakening of the African Mind is a key. It is a roadmap. It is a call to destiny…. With SBA: The Reawakening of the African Mind, Dr. Hilliard…helps us to comprehend why education is so critical to African liberation and advancement. Within his opening thoughts, Asa inextricably links the mind (spirit), with culture and education. He notes that to reawaken the African mind, one must ensure that the goal of education, and the socialization process must be to understand and live up to African cultural principles, values and virtues.” --Wade W. Nobles, Ph.D. (From the Foreword)

Keeping Black Boys Out Of Special Education
Jawanza Kunjufu;

This critical analysis looks at the disproportionate number of African American males in special education. Arguing that the problem is race and gender driven, questions covered include Why does Europe send more females to special education? Why does America lead the world in giving children Ritalin? Is there a relationship between sugar, Ritalin, and cocaine? and Is there a relationship between special education and prison? More than 100 strategies to help teachers and parents keep black boys in the regular classroom, such as revising teacher expectations, increasing parental involvement, changing teaching styles from a left-brain abstract approach to a right-brain hands-on approach, redoing the curriculum, understanding the impact of mass media, and fostering healthy eating habits.

Children are the reward of life:
Parent/teacher guidelines for maximizing black children's potential
Jawanza Kunjufu;

Teacher's guide for Lessons from history, a celebration in blackness:
Elementary and jr.-sr. high editions
Jawanza Kunjufu;

Prophetic Insight:
The Higher Education and Pedagogy of African Americans
Earnest N. Bracey;
Prophetic Insight explores contentious issues in higher education concerning black students relative to larger society, while providing the competing perspectives needed to understand and evaluate multiculturalism and the diverging exigencies facing the higher education system in America. Ernest N. Bracey invites conversation about the pedagogy of blacks, discusses the current state of Black Studies, the W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington debate, and Afrocentricity. He invites an appreciation of the beginnings and roots of black education in America, recognizing the debate over affirmative action, and explores the uniqueness of historically black colleges and universities. Most importantly, Bracey provides constructive and analytical information on the necessary methods of examining African American politics and higher education within the context of historical and contemporary issues.

According to Rev. McCray, it is the black young adults ages 17 to 24, especially the males, who will either make the Black Church and community or break them through their own broken lives. Here Rev. McCray presents meaningful and clear directions and workable ideas to help black youth grow into strong committed young adults. (Black Light Fellowship)
FROM THE PUBLISHER: The strength of the book lies in the author's identification of unique ways in which Christian education can communicate God's Word to young adults in the Black Church.

Heritage
by Joyce M. Jarrett,
Unique in its perspective and range, this developmental reader/writer uses diverse essays, short stories, poems and plays by and about African Americans to stimulate critical reading, thinking, discussion, and writing. It first provides a comprehensive process-oriented writing guide with illustrations of writing in progress, and then offers a diverse collection of readings. The readings explore 18 themes and will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers — both traditional and non-traditional.

Young, Gifted, and Black
by Theresa Perry, Claude Steele, Asa G., III Hilliard
Young, Gifted, and Black is a unique joint effort by three leading African-American scholars to radically reframe the debates swirling around the achievement of African-American students in school.

In three separate but allied essays, Theresa Perry, Claude Steele, and Asa Hilliard place students" social identity as African-Americans at the very center of the discussion. They all argue that the unique social and cultural position Black students occupy, in a society which often devalues and stereotypes African American identity, fundamentally shapes students" experience of school and sets up unique obstacles. And they all argue that a proper understanding of the forces at work can lead to practical, powerful methods for promoting high achievement at all levels.

This book presents the experiences and ideas of a leading Black educator, interweaving his autobiography with the stories of contemporary street gang members and former members. Their own words illustrate Gentry's thesis that even the hardest gang members wanted to get an education and want to find "The Hope Factor." In addition, the book offers an approach for dealing with the greatest challenges facing the nation today: urban violence and the mis-education of minority youth.

Building Effective Afterschool Programs
by Olatokunbo S. Fashola
" ... provides a breadth of information that interested stakeholders can use in planning, designing, or implementing an afterschool program. Especially noteworthy is the attention paid to the importance of evaluation.”