Abstract
The present study explores what is revealed about the epistemetic characteristics Africana Studies through an analysis of theories in the discipline. Race/ethnic specific theories in Africana Studies are subjected to a reductive analysis to identify the most common qualities they possess. The results indicate that although Africana Studies theories seek to explain a wide range of dimensions of the lives of people of African descent, they have several common characteristics, such as: Recognition of the Necessity of Cultural Specificity, Prioritization of Africana Needs and Interests, Heterogeneous Collectivism, Collective Emancipation and Empowerment, Agency and Self Consciousness, Historical Location, Cultural Situating, Recognizing the Shaping Effects of Oppression and Liberation, and Intersectionality. The present study helps to distinguish the unique approach to knowing in Africana Studies. Moreover, the data may be utilized to guide theory development in the discipline.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams, R. L. (2000). Epistemological considerations in Afro-American studies. In D. P. Aldridge & C. Young (Eds.), Out of the revolution: the development of Africana studies (pp. 39–57). Lanham: Lexington.
Akbar, N. (1991). The evolution of human psychology for African Americans. In R. L. Jones (Ed.), Black psychology (pp. 99–123). Berkeley: Cobb & Henry.
Akbar, Na’im. (1975 October). Address Before the Black Child Development Institute Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Asante, M. K. (2003). Locating a text: implication of Afrocentric theory. In A. Mazama (Ed.), The Afrocentric paradigm. Trenton: Africa World Press.
Asante, M. K. (2010). Africology and the puzzle of nomenclature. Journal of Black Studies, 40(1), 12–23.
Azibo, D. A. (2012). Africana studies moving toward dereliction, savaged by invisible Jim Crow, warrior-scholars in chaos: what to do? Embrace the irrefragable African-centered worldview. The Journal of Pan African Studies, 5(4), 12–23.
Belgrave, F., & Allison, K. W. (2009). African American psychology. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Billingsley, A. (1968). Black families in White America. New York: Touchstone.
Carr, G. E. (2007). Towards an intellectual history of African America studies: genealogy and normative theory. In N. Norment (Ed.), The African American studies reader (pp. 338–352). Durham: Carolina Academic.
Carr, G. K., et al. (1997). The African centered philosophy of history: an exploratory essay on the genealogy of foundationalist historical thought and African nationalist identity construction. In J. H. Caruthers & L. C. Harris (Eds.), The African World History Project: the preliminary challenge (pp. 285–320). Los Angeles: ASCAC.
Carruthers, J. H. (1995). MDW NTR: a historiographical reflection of African deep thought from the time of the pharaohs to the present. London: Karnak House.
Collins, P. H. (2009). Black feminist thought. New York: Routledge.
Dixon, V. J. (1976). Worldviews and research methodology. In L. M. King (Ed.), African philosophy: assumptions and paradigms for research on Black Persons (pp. 51–77). Los Angeles: Fanon Center.
Floyd-Thomas, S., Floyd-Thomas, J., Duncan, C. B., Ray, S. C., & Westfield, N. L. (2007). Black Church studies: an introduction. Nashville: Abingdon.
Furusa, M. (2010). Spelling our proper name: reconceptualizing the order of Africana/Black studies. The Journal of Black Studies, 40(1), 24–40.
Gentry, Q., Elifson, K., & Sterk, C. (2005). Aiming for more relevant HIV risk reduction: a black feminist perspective for enhancing HIV intervention for low-income African American women. AIDS Education and Prevention, 17(3), 238–252.
Grills, C. (2002). African-centered psychology. In T. A. Parham (Ed.), Counseling persons of African descent (pp. 10–24). Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Grills, C., & Adjei, M. (2002). African-centered conceptualizations of self and consciousness. In T. A. Parham (Ed.), Counseling persons of African descent (pp. 75–99). Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Hall, P. A. (2010). African American studies: discourses and paradigms. In J. Davidson (Ed.), African American studies (pp. 15–35). Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Hallen, B. (2006). Yoruba moral epistemology. In K. Wiredu (Ed.), A companion to African philosophy (pp. 296–303). Oxford: Blackwell.
Hill, R. (1998). The strengths of African American families. New York: University Press of America.
Hudson-Weems, C. (1993). Africana womanism: reclaiming ourselves. MI: Bedford.
Kambon, K. K. (1999). The worldviews paradigm: foundation for African Black psychology. Tallahassee: Nubian Nation.
Karenga, M. (2010a). Introduction to Black studies. Los Angeles: University of Sankore Pres.
Karenga, M. (2010b). Names and notions of Black studies: issues of roots, range, and relevance. Journal of Black Studies, 40(1), 41–64.
Kershaw, T. (1992). Toward a Black studies paradigm. Journal of Black Studies, 22(4), 447–492.
Lao-Montes, A. (2007). Decolonial moves: en-gendering African diasporas. Cultural Studies, 21(2/3), 309–338.
Little, W. A., Leonard, C. M., & Crosby, E. (1981). Black Studies and Africana Studies curriculum model in the United States. In N. Norment (Ed.), The African American studies reader (pp. 811–831). Durham: Carolina Academic.
Mazama, A. (2003). The Afrocentric paradigm. Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press.
Mazama, A. (2010). Naming and defining: a critical link. Journal of Black Studies, 40(1), 65–76.
Naseem, S. B. (2002). African heritage and contemporary life. In P. H. Coetzee, P. Abraham, & J. Roux (Eds.), Philosophy from Africa (pp. 259–271). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Nkulu-N’Sengha, M. (2005). African epistemology. In M. K. Asante & A. Mazama (Eds.), The encyclopedia of Black Studies (pp. 39–44). Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Nobles, W. W. (2006). Seeking the Sakhu. Chicago: Third World Press.
Nobles, W. W. (1986). Ancient Egyptian thought and the development of African (Black) psychology. In M. Karenga & J. H. Carruthers (Eds.), Kemet and the African Worldview (pp. 100–118). Los Angeles: University of Sankore Press.
Nobles, W. W., Goddard, L. L., Cavil, W. E., & George, P. Y. (1987). African American families: issues, insights, and directions. Oakland: Black Family Institute Publications.
Obasi, E. M., Flores, L. Y., & James-Myers, L. (2009). Construction and initial validation of the Worldview Analysis Scale (WAS). Journal of Black Studies, 39(6), 937–961.
Obenga, T. (2002). “Pedagogy in Ancient Kemet.” Imhotep Magazine, 3, San Francisco State University Black Studies Department, pp. 7–11.
Obenga, T. (2004). African philosophy: the Pharaonic Period. Paris: PER ANK.
Parrinder, G. (1951). West African psychology: a comparative study of psychological and religious thought. Cambridge: Clarke.
Ramose, M. B. (2002). Philosophy of ubuntu and ubuntu as philosophy. In P. H. Coetzee, P. Abraham, & J. Roux (Eds.), Philosophy from Africa (pp. 230–238). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Shujaa, M. J. (2003). Education and schooling: you can have one without the other. In A. Mazama (Ed.), The Afrocentric paradigm (pp. 245–264). Trenton: Africa World Press.
Stewart, J. B. (1983). Toward operationalization of an “expansive” model of Black Studies. Atlanta: Institute of the Black World.
Taiwo, O. (2006). Ifa: an account of a divination system and some concluding epistemological questions. In K. Wiredu (Ed.), A companion to African philosophy (pp. 304–312). Oxford: Blackwell.
Temple, C. N. (2006). Strategies for cultural renewal in an American-based version of African globalism. Journal of Black Studies, 36(3), 301–317.
Turner, J. (2000). Africana studies and epistemology. In D. P. Aldridge & C. Young (Eds.), Out of the revolution: the development of Africana studies (pp. 59–75). Lanham: Lexington.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McDougal, S. Africana Studies’ Epistemic Identity: An Analysis of Theory and Epistemology in the Discipline. J Afr Am St 18, 236–250 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12111-013-9265-2
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12111-013-9265-2