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Development of african american studies
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Techniques to reduce prejudice
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Through taking Introduction to African and American Studies, I have come to understand as to why it is crucial for people to have knowledge of African American Studies. The reason being, many past events in Black history, still have an impact on the societal structure we all live through today. However, this thought of the past still being relevant in the future is usually dismissed. This is a form of cognitive dissonance that people have where they are so fearful of confronting the past, and are ignorant to the repercussions we all must face due to past mistakes. Entering this course, I already possessed a sufficient amount of knowledge regarding Black studies. Though I have enrolled in higher level African American Studies courses in the past, taking this introductory course has still been effective in increasing my understanding of African American Studies. …show more content…
John Henrik, Queen Tiye, and W.E.B. Du Bois. The course also re visited several Black icons that are well known such as, Dr Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks. The course emphasized on several of these Black leaders effect on society and their backgrounds. During grade school, Black history is touched upon but not thoroughly researched or taught. Students from kindergarten to the 12th grade just have a vague idea as to what has conspired for centuries regarding Black people in America and internationally. The academic curriculum in many United States public schools only teaches students about the events of slavery and the Civil Rights movement. While only few of many Black leaders being emphasized in the curriculum, with those individuals being Dr. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X. Black public Introduction to African and African American studies provides its students with a clearer perspective on the Black
Stewart’s essay “The Field and Function of Black Studies”, he implies that black history is dominated by continuing challenges by its critics and the weak attachment of many scholars to the black studies movement and to black studies units even when the research of such scholars examines the black experience (pg. 45). Statistics show that 70.2 percent indicated that the number of full-time faculty members who have appointments outside black studies and another academic units is stable, proving the fact that black studies has established a beachhead in higher education. This statistic demonstrates how things have been stable in terms of growing the teachings of black studies, which causes challenges. A challenge that can be seen from this issue, is the lack of financial support available to faculty and students. Small budgets are provided to Black Study departments at many universities, therefore, making it difficult to purchase materials and hire more educated, experienced staff
When one thinks of prominent figures in African American history the direct correlation is that those leaders lived and died long ago, and are far removed from present-day society. In lieu of Dr. Mary Frances Early’s achievements, she is a “Living Legend” walking amongst the faculty, staff, and students here at Clark Atlanta University.
It is impossible for anyone to survive a horrible event in their life without a relationship to have to keep them alive. The connection and emotional bond between the person suffering and the other is sometimes all they need to survive. On the other hand, not having anyone to believe in can make death appear easier than life allowing the person to give up instead of fighting for survival. In The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill, Aminata Diallo survives her course through slavery by remembering her family and the friends that she makes. Aminata is taught by her mother, Sira to deliver babies in the villages of her homeland. This skill proves to be very valuable to Aminata as it helps her deliver her friends babies and create a source of income. Aminata’s father taught Aminata to write small words in the dirt when she was small. Throughout the rest of the novel, Aminata carries this love for learning new things to the places that she travels and it inspires her to accept the opportunities given to her to learn how to write, read maps, and perform accounting duties. Early in the novel Aminata meets Chekura and they establish a strong relationship. Eventually they get married but they are separated numerous times after. Aminata continuously remembers and holds onto her times with Chekura amidst all of her troubles. CHILDREN. The only reason why Aminata Diallo does not die during her journey into and out of slavery is because she believes strongly in her parents, husband and children; therefore proving that people survive hardships only when they have relationships in which to believe.
Often one will see a sense of resilience in African Americans today. When faced with adversity they often turn to faith and look at history for ways to solve it. Recently these three concepts have shown up in the news with police brutality and the recent presidential election. During today’s issues just like in the movie African Americans turned to history for answers but also display faith and courage when rebelling against the oppressive system. Sankofa shows that the use of history, faith, and courage have always been used to create stronger individuals in the African American community. African Americas are always taught to use their history to keep themselves safe from a young age. History is used as an example to prevent more turmoil in the African American community. It has also brought about more churches which have been used to instill more faith amongst their community giving them a sense of
Imagine this; the year is 1836. You are a 17-year-old student interested in learning more about the world around you; however, such an opportunity won’t come your way because you are black. Due to this fact you have no hope of furthering your education past the reading, writing, and arithmetic their slave masters taught your parents. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. The minds of many African American’s go to waste due to individual ignorance of their people and thus of themselves. Historically Black Colleges and Universities were put into effect to educate the black mind and eliminate the ignorance. The discussion of whether Historically Black Colleges and Universities are still necessary in the 21st century has taken place in recent years. Within the discussion many debate that due to the fact that the world is no longer like it was in the 1800’s, the time period in which Historically Black Colleges and Universities were created, the purpose of them no longer exists. However, the cultural significance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities seems to be overlooked by those who argue their importance and relevance in a time where blacks have the option of attending predominantly white institutions (PWIs). The purpose and grounds on which Historically Black Colleges and Universities were developed are still being served. The need to increase efforts to not only rouse, but support Historically Black Colleges and Universities is necessary now more than ever in order to preserve our past, fulfill the purpose of our present, and ensure our future.
First, The Mis-Education of Negro illustrates how the education system’s failure to present authentic Negro history in schools reinforces the black man’s inferior role. The neglect of Negro history is harmful to African Americans because it deprives the race from their whole heritage. The oppressors would do this to tarnish the African background in order to keep the African race inferior. Woodson writes, “In history, o...
The African-American Years: Chronologies of American History and Experience. Ed. Gabriel Burns Stepto. New York: Charles Scribner 's Sons, 2003.
It must be noted that for the purpose of avoiding redundancy, the author has chosen to use the terms African-American and black synonymously to reference the culture, which...
African American history plays a huge role in history today. From decades of research we can see the process that this culture went through and how they were depressed and deculturalized. In school, we take the time to learn about African American History but, we fail to see the aspects that African Americans had to overcome to be where they are today. We also fail to view life in their shoes and fundamentally understand the hardships and processes that they went through. African Americans were treated so terribly and poor in the last century and, they still are today. As a subordinate race to the American White race, African Americans were not treated equal, fair, human, or right under any circumstances. Being in the subordinate position African Americans are controlled by the higher white group in everything that they do.
The aspect of African-American Studies is key to the lives of African-Americans and those involved with the welfare of the race. African-American Studies is the systematic and critical study of the multidimensional aspects of Black thought and practice in their current and historical unfolding (Karenga, 21). African-American Studies exposes students to the experiences of African-American people and others of African descent. It allows the promotion and sharing of the African-American culture. However, the concept of African-American Studies, like many other studies that focus on a specific group, gender, and/or creed, poses problems. Therefore, African-American Studies must overcome the obstacles in order to improve the state of being for African-Americans.
He makes a very good point when he says that the more knowledge black workers have the less control unions would have on them. Blassingame goes on to state that African American Studies will have a relatively short cycle because it has already been deemed a “soft program that these students can pass” (Blassingame 152) and institutions “are not seriously committed to African American Studies because they feel the demand will die out shortly” (Blassingame 153). Blacks need to broaden their horizons to be able to teach other fields such as math, biology, engineering and law. This will begin to truly integrate schools and there won’t be any unfair “separate but equal” facilities. Blassingame makes an argument saying that African American Studies shouldn’t serve as an “emotional reinforcement” (Blassingame 160), which means black students having support from other blacks to better live with racism, because there have been many blacks before them at a time when racism was more prevalent and they have succeed without it. African American Studies should be used to enrich educational experiences of all students and teach them to think and understand more clearly, the problems of their
In From Slavery to Freedom (2007), it was said that “the transition from slavery to freedom represents one of the major themes in the history of African Diaspora in the Americas” (para. 1). African American history plays an important role in American history not only because the Civil Rights Movement, but because of the strength and courage of Afro-Americans struggling to live a good life in America. Afro-Americans have been present in this country since the early 1600’s, and have been making history since. We as Americans have studied American history all throughout school, and took one Month out of the year to studied African American history. Of course we learn some things about the important people and events in African American history, but some of the most important things remain untold which will take more than a month to learn about.
All people are living histories-which is why history matters. Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in U.S. history. Carter G. Woodson proposed Black History Month in 1926. Woodson stated, " If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated." Carter G. Woodson picked the second week of February, between the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Woodson contended that the teaching of black history was essential to ensure the physical and intellectual survival of the race within broader society.
In this reflective essay, it displays the honest truth of how African Americans are treated in America. Many people base their perceptions towards black men or women because of incidents that they have seen in the media. When white people or any other race commit violent acts, most don’t even care or change their views. Stereotypes can also affect the way that we see people. If we have never met or been friends with someone that society talks down on then we will believe everything that we hear. This is why Staples was treated as a criminal.
African American Studies focuses on the experiences, the problems, and the prospects of individual and groups whose heritage is African. The field examines the historical records of black people in Africa and in the Western hemisphere.