Intro to Black Studies by Maulana Karenga Ch. 2

AHSA, African Heritage Studies Association history

. Emerged from a year of discussions within Black Caucus of the African Studies Association (ASA) and simultaneous negotiations with leadership of ASA. (grievances against ASA, decided to form new organization)

. Held first convention in 1969, initially maintained links with ASA.

. ASA rejected petition from its Black Caucus for multiple demands of equitable representation and lost several members who formed AHSA.

AHSA goals

1. focus on transnational and international African world interests and cooperative relations among scholars throughout the African world as outline in Locksley Edmondson's 1985 memo "Redefining the Role of AHSA"

2. Strengthening and expanding the AHSA student commission to mentor and support young scholars

3. a publishing project to aid Africana literature

4. Sustaining and expanding the AHSA newsletter

5. building a pan-African research institute dedicated to the pursuit of truth and the reaffirmation of African heritage

African Studies Association (ASA)

major professional organization of African Studies during this period (60s)

Fundamental goals of pan-Africanist scholars and activists

1. examine every aspect and approach to history and culture of African people in this country and world

2. to project (AHSA) influence into every organization that relates to Africans and people of African descent

3. challenge and question all who claim authority on African life and history

4. use African history to effect a world union of African people

5. establish "a new frame of reference in all matters relating to Africa"

6. define African heritage and put components of heritage together to weld an instrument of liberation

National Council for Black Studies (NCBS) history

. Founded in 1976

. has become preeminent discipline organization

. since inception, NCBS had a balance of female and male officers and key players which helped produced a productive male/female dialog and exhcange, expanding and enriching the organization.

NCBS goals

1. facilitate recruitment of Black scholars for all levels of teaching and research in universities and colleges

2. assist in creation and implementation of multicultural education programs and materials for K-12 schools and higher education institutions

3. promote scholarly Africancentered research on all aspects of the African world experience

4. increase and improve informational resources on pan-African life and culture to be made available to general public

5. provixe professional advice to policy makers in education, government and community development

6. maintain international linkages among Africana Studies

7. work for empowerment of African people

Cheikh Anta Diop International Conference History

. Founded in 1988 by Molefi Kete Asante, professor of African American Studies at Temple University, his wife Ana Yenenga and colleagues.

. Conference named after Senegalese scholar Cheikh Anta Diop (earned title Imhotedpian man).

. Diop challenged African intellectuals to return to Egypt in all domains and use ancient Egyptian civilization as a fundamental source for paradigms of excellence, achievement and possibilities in all the disciplines of human knowledge.

. Asante moved to preserve and advance Diop's work, and to create community of scholars around which Diop's work could serve as a framework and foundation for the Afrocentric initiative in Africana Studies.

Cheikh Anta Diop International Conference Goals

1. Introduction of the new discipline

2. professional and collegial networking among students and faculty in Black Studies

3. advancement of disciplinary knowledge around the Afrocentric idea

Similar goals and interests of the professional organizations

Role of Black Women in founding and development of these professional organizations of Black Studies.

Emergence of Afrocentric Initiative

Molefi Asante (role in founding of Afrocentric Initiative)

. Moved to create first Black Studies Ph.D. program, but at same time was interested in reaffirming Afrocentric scholarship as defining feature of discipline.

. Asante needed a larger community of Afrocentric scholars to demonstrate and deppen the pan-African and international reach and relevance of the discipline.

. Asante founded both the 1st Ph.D. program in African American Studies and the Cheikh Anta Diop Conference.

Commonality between multiculturalism and pluralism

African character of Egypt arguements by Cheikh Anta Diop

3 basic tasks Diop set for scholars in critical study of ancient Egyptian history and culture.