Unicorn
16th April 2008, 14:32
Afrocentrism, or Afrocentricity, is a world view which emphasizes the importance of African peoples in culture, philosophy, and history.[1] Fundamental to Afrocentrism is the assumption that approaching knowledge from a Eurocentrist perspective, as well as certain mainstream assumptions in the application of information in the West, has led to injustices and also to inadequacies in meeting the needs of African peoples, meaning indigenous, Black Africans and the peoples of the African diaspora. The Afrocentrist paradigm seeks to discover and also reinterpret information through African eyes.
As an ideology and scholarly and social movement, the Afrocentrist paradigm has its beginnings among Black intellectuals, political figures and historians in the practice of history and social and political activism. However, as part of a broader, multicultural movement, it is in use today beyond these contexts across a number of disciplines, among them religion, education, sociology, psychiatry, medicine and public health, and in the delivery of government and social services. Molefi Kete Asante describes "Afrocentricity" as a "systematic nationalism", however, it focuses more on one's consciousness instead of the change of the black nation. This term no longer represents a "coherent political ideology" but appears to be instead a set of tactics in the struggle for cultural survival.[2]
According to its critics, Afrocentrism is a mythology that exaggerates the contributions of African peoples to culture, philosophy, and history. They point to disputed claims of Egyptians being black, allegations unsupported by the critics. Some claim that it is an attempt to assert black superiority over other races.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrocentrism
What do you think of Afrocentrism? I question some of the historic and scientific claims made by Afrocentric scholars but I support Afrocentrism which debunks the claims of Eurocentric historians and elevates the self-esteem of the black community.
As an ideology and scholarly and social movement, the Afrocentrist paradigm has its beginnings among Black intellectuals, political figures and historians in the practice of history and social and political activism. However, as part of a broader, multicultural movement, it is in use today beyond these contexts across a number of disciplines, among them religion, education, sociology, psychiatry, medicine and public health, and in the delivery of government and social services. Molefi Kete Asante describes "Afrocentricity" as a "systematic nationalism", however, it focuses more on one's consciousness instead of the change of the black nation. This term no longer represents a "coherent political ideology" but appears to be instead a set of tactics in the struggle for cultural survival.[2]
According to its critics, Afrocentrism is a mythology that exaggerates the contributions of African peoples to culture, philosophy, and history. They point to disputed claims of Egyptians being black, allegations unsupported by the critics. Some claim that it is an attempt to assert black superiority over other races.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrocentrism
What do you think of Afrocentrism? I question some of the historic and scientific claims made by Afrocentric scholars but I support Afrocentrism which debunks the claims of Eurocentric historians and elevates the self-esteem of the black community.