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: ,

57,013 Responses to “Methodologies VI: Methodology Manifesto”

  1. I am very much pleased with the contents you have mentioned. I wanted to thank you for this great article.

  2. Pay for Assignments says:

    Student life brings stress especially when it comes to assignments. The lingering fear of impending assignments keeps playing at the back of your mind, which becomes difficult to tackle. So how to shake off the dreadful feeling? Simple, you just have to ping our Assignment Help UK website at PayForAssignments.co.uk for a reliable and trustworthy solution.

  3. KEONHACAI says:

    First of all, thank you for your post. keonhacai Your posts are neatly organized with the information I want, so there are plenty of resources to reference. I bookmark this site and will find your posts frequently in the future. Thanks again ^^

  4. Sachin says:

    The team at 36RPM have combined experience of 12 years in developing marketing strategies and developing E-commerce websites Seo Services in Gurgaon& plans.

  5. nycartinstallation says:

    We can change any seating area into a magnificent and genuinely spectacular environment to enjoy golden moments with your friends and family with this simple notion. So, if you’re looking for the best Mirror Installation NYC, you should contact NYC Art Installation immediately and get the ambiance that you’ve always desired.

  6. Sikkim 12th Class Books says:

    Before summer break, Sikkim 12th Class Books 2023 are helpful for students to understand since every topic is written in simple language and with diagrams. English, Nepali, Sikkimese, and Lepcha arts, commerce, and sciences. Gurung, Limbu, Magar, Mukhia, Newari, Rai, Sherpa, Sikkim 12th Class Books and Tamang are other official languages. Subject-specific books feature practise problems and instructive examples to help students develop their conceptual understanding. Students in Sikkim’s 12th grade can better prepare if they are aware of the study guide. For quarterly, consult the Sikkim Board 12th Class Book of 2023.

  7. situs judi slot online

    like water for chocolate » Assignments

  8. KEONHACAI says:

    It’s really great. Thank you for providing a quality article. There is something you might be interested in. Do you know keonhacai ? If you have more questions, please come to my site and check it out!

  9. Kratom Lords says:

    The need to promote cultures open to diversity, and to introduce
    specific measures to correct them. All this implies a strong
    political commitment at the highest level, which also translates into
    concrete and effective investments and policies.

  10. آهنگ says:

    thanks.very nice

  11. cek merek says:

    cek merek

    tentang jasa pengurusan paten merek, dengan didampingi konsultan tersertifikasi dari kemenkumham

  12. RTP SLOT says:

    RTP slot gacor

  13. ubobet says:

    Amazing article 🙂

  14. Gadget dan Internet

    Situs Berisi Informasi dan Tutorial Tentang Aplikasi, Gadget dan Internet yang lagi tren

  15. I admire this article for the well-researched content and excellent wording. I got so involved in this material that I couldn’t stop reading. I am impressed with your work and skill. Thank you so much.

  16. Probed firması internet üzerinden yaptığı satışlarında kalite ve fiyat dengesini çok iyi yakalamayı bilmiştir. Örneğin Probed dövme malzemesi aldığınızda işletmeniz için en doğru tercihi vermiş olacaksınız. Dövme yaptırmak isteyen birinin bu işi yaptırırken hem hijyeni bir yeri seçmesi hem de rahat edebileceği bir yerde olmayı tercih etmesi gerekir. Dövme koltukları da bu noktada tercih edilmesi gerekir.
    Site : https://probed.com.tr/

  17. Meet golden kolkata escorts girl at your needs, HI Fi network with great companions 24/7 hours . We have Female Escorts, College girls, if yes then you have ended at right place.

  18. prediksi ladangtoto

    like water for chocolate » Assignments

  19. wiki-planet.win

    like water for chocolate » Assignments

  20. Cengage Mindtap is an interactive online study tool for students and learners that includes model papers, online assignments, and mindtap questions. Cengage Mindtap answers are responses to questions in the Cengage Mindtap portal.
    Every day, many students struggle with these online assignments and questions. If you are amongst them, don’t fret because our experts are here to assist you in finding appropriate Cengage MindTap Answers.

  21. Ние ви предлагаме надеждни и прозрачни системи за проследяване
    Можете да се свържете с нас от всички канали 24/7, за да получите цени за вашите пратки между България и Турция.
    Справка : https://www.pitonlogistics.bg/

  22. kunjungi website kami

    like water for chocolate » Assignments

  23. wonder4d says:

    wonder4d

    like water for chocolate » Assignments

  24. bandar togel says:

    bandar togel

    like water for chocolate » Assignments

  25. Keo nha cai says:

    Your writing is perfect and complete. keo nha cai However, I think it will be more wonderful if your post includes additional topics that I am thinking of. I have a lot of posts on my site similar to your topic. Would you like to visit once?

  26. “We offer the best orthopedic doctor in Delhi, India with 30+ years of experience. we have top best orthopedic doctor near me for Knee, Hip & other joints.
    orthopedic doctor near me

  27. We offer the [url=https://curemyknee.com/best-orthopedic-doctor-in-delhi.html]best orthopedic doctor in Delhi[/url], India with 30+ years of experience. we have top [url=https://curemyknee.com/best-orthopedic-doctor-in-delhi.html]best orthopedic doctor near me[/url] for Knee, Hip & other joints. [url=https://curemyknee.com/best-orthopedic-doctor-in-delhi.html]orthopedic doctor near me[/url]

  28. web.symbol.rs

    like water for chocolate » Assignments

  29. wiki-neon.win

    like water for chocolate » Assignments

  30. uday says:

    Nice thanks for sharing informative post like this keep posting if like more details visit my website linkhttps://cybersecuritymasters.in/

  31. I’m glad to see the great detail here!.

  32. dorahoki login

    like water for chocolate » Assignments

  33. jelly-bookmarks.win

    like water for chocolate » Assignments

  34. https://wiki-Zine.win

    like water for chocolate » Assignments

  35. dorahoki says:

    dorahoki

    like water for chocolate » Assignments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.