Methodologies VI: Methodology Manifesto

Africana studies has the singular history of being a field that is both personal and academic. It is a field where possibility and malleability reign supreme. For students whose vocational education purposely and systematically excluded the histories, literature, and art of Africana peoples, Africana studies could serve as a second education, a (hopefully) diasporic family history.  For students who have grown up in predominantly white spaces, Africana programs have the capacity to serve as a quest for a reimagined and realized black self. The field has transformative power as it is the reflection of self, the world, and it’s future. However it’s this mixture of the personal and academic that has proved to be both the field’s point of success and failure.

Like many of the scholars who pondered the future of Africana studies, I too feel that Africana studies, as I’ve experienced it, has focused excessively on deconstructing white supremacist and hegemonic thought and practice (Rabaka, Africana Critical Theory). For survey courses in the discipline this focus on deconstruction is not only important but also necessary.  However, the study should move past this stasis. As students plunge deeper into the field, the focus should also deepen. I suggest that courses include the radical thought that is explored in black feminism and womanism, modern articles/videos/and or movements (digital or otherwise), or rarely called upon texts that complicate or reformulate daily black life.

Furthermore Africana study both in survey and major courses need to incorporate an international narrative. Here I do not mean a simple additive course of action that tokenizes Afro-Latino, Afro-European, and African thought (Higginbotham, Designing an Inclusive Curriculum). I mean an infusing of various scholars from these regions at the inception of Africana education. Because Africana studies is the intersection of the personal and the political, American institutions often have ignored or bypassed other texts because they see them as irrelevant to their national narrative. We must not only be cognizant of this failing but also realize that our experiences are a part of a larger dialogue. If Africana studies wishes to continue being the transformative field it is, it must implement this change. This would inhibit our theories from being too Americentric and would encourage future endeavors to truly encapsulate the African diaspora. It would also even cover the aforementioned point of finding new/radical thinkers instead of regurgitation of ‘classic texts’.

And we can’t stop there. As Africana is an interdisciplinary field, its reach should even extend to quantitative data. Similar to Psychological Statistics, an Africana Studies and Statistics course would teach not only the formulation of numbers but also the ways in which statistics are manipulated in various studies in relation to Africana peoples. The class would effectively prepare students to use this quantitative practice in future research, and further integrate Africana studies in other quantitatively drive fields.

Ultimately I’m calling for a breath of new life into the field. An understanding of the passage of time and shortcomings that feeds the future of Africana studies. We need to incorporate black women, international radical thought, quantitative study, digital media, sex and sexuality, and the arts as all necessary and integral subjects to this field. I’m calling for the cessation of additive education in favor of whole-hearted inclusion. For we are not where we were when Africana Studies began. We should no longer centralize white theory and black male radicalism in our work. As we are expanding our community our study should too. We must move past deconstruction in order to build lasting education for our youth.

Word count: 589

Works Cited

Higginbotham, Elizabeth. “Designing an Inclusive Curriculum: Bringing All Women Into the Core,” Words of Fire. Print. The New Press: New York, NY. 1995.  480

Rabaka, Reiland. “Africana Critical Theory: Overcoming the Aversion to New Theory and New Praxis in Africana Studies and Critical Social Theory”.

 

Tags: ,

23,888 Responses to “Methodologies VI: Methodology Manifesto”

  1. 語馨 says:

    購買瞭解更多正品春藥資訊
    請登入台灣&香港春藥總匯:AV媚藥網臺灣總代理,或直接點擊網路連接登入網站(https://avmyw.com/)
    或加在線客服藥師的LINE:av669或飛機:@avmyw99歡迎隨時咨詢與訂購,24h竭誠為您服務,祝生活愉快!

  2. Karl maxwell says:

    I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation for your latest blog post. Your writing style is not only informative but also engaging and captivating, which makes for a truly enjoyable read.

    What I particularly admire about your writing is your ability to take complex ideas and break them down into easily understandable concepts. This skill is incredibly valuable for readers like myself, who may not have the same level of expertise in the subject matter. Your ability to communicate complex concepts in a clear and concise manner is truly commendable.

    By the way, I’m also a writer, and I recently published a blog post about the crypto protocol and the concept of mining for cryptocurrencies. I posted a blog on the world has witnessed a significant rise in the popularity of cryptocurrencies, and India is no exception to this trend

    Once again, thank you for your outstanding contribution to the field. Your writing has made a significant impact, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from your insights.

  3. seo says:

    This is my first time visit here. From the tons of comments on your articles,I guess I am not only one having all the enjoyment right here! freedom mortgage login

  4. seo says:

    I admire what you have done here. I like the part where you say you are doing this to give back but I would assume by all the comments that this is working for you as well. infinity insurance

  5. “Experience the power of sacred mantras with our stunning resin mantra frame for sale at ClassyArtz.com. Immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of these artful creations that harmonize mind, body, and soul.”

  6. seo says:

    Took me time to read all the comments, but I really enjoyed the article. It proved to be Very helpful to me and I am sure to all the commenters here! It’s always nice when you can not only be informed, but also entertained! kohls credit card login

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.