Chapter Three: Other Writings and Activities
Carter Godwin Woodson was not only the founder and leader of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), but also a prolific and influential writer and activist. He wrote numerous books and articles on various aspects of Black history and culture, as well as on current issues and problems facing the Black community. He also participated in other organizations and movements that aimed to advance the cause of Black people in the United States and around the world. He said, "I write and act for the good of my people."
One of Woodson’s most famous and influential books was The Miseducation of the Negro, published in 1933. It was a scathing critique of the American educational
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It was a comprehensive and original survey of the history and culture of Africa from ancient times to modern times. It covered various aspects of African civilization, such as geography, politics, economics, religion, art, literature, science, etc. It also highlighted the diversity and complexity of African societies and peoples, as well as their interactions and influences with other regions and cultures. Woodson said, "The African Background Outlined is to be a guide to African history."
Woodson wrote The African Background Outlined with two main purposes in mind. One was to provide accurate and objective information about Africa, as opposed to the myths and stereotypes that pervaded Western literature and media. He said, "The African Background Outlined is to correct the misinformation about Africa." The other was to provide a source of inspiration and empowerment for Black people in the United States and elsewhere who were descended from Africa. He said, "The African Background outline is to connect the Negro with his ancestral home."
Woodson’s The African Background Outlined had a significant impact on the field of African
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He used various sources and methods to gather and analyze information about Black history and culture, such as primary documents, oral traditions, statistical data, comparative studies, etc. He also used various styles and formats to present and communicate his findings and arguments, such as narrative, analytical, descriptive, persuasive, etc. He also used various media and platforms to reach and engage his audience, such as books, journals, magazines, newspapers, radio, etc. He said, "I write for different purposes and audiences."
Woodson’s writings had a significant impact on the field of Black history and culture. He produced a vast and valuable body of literature that documented and analyzed the history and achievements of Black people throughout history. He also created a platform for dialogue and debate among scholars and enthusiasts of Black history and
His lasting legacy was that he shaped what we now know as education through his books. He eventually created Black History Month, a month where everyone all over the country recognizes howAfrican-Americans fought for equal rights and
Throughout history, Africa has not only been whitewashed and demonized, but also has been belittled, diminished, and dismissed entirely because of human ignorance. Monsters and human beasts were rumored to roam Africa due to false information and misunderstandings of early {European} explorers. Oxford historian Hugh Trevor-Roper even went as far as to say that Africa has nothing to offer but darkness before European conquest and exploitation, making Africa not respected enough to study. This statement is racist, unenlightened, and undeviatingly inaccurate and steamed solely off of personal bias and takes away all credibility of Trevor-Roper, rightfully so. English historian and author John Reader combated this idea with his African bibliography,
In Chapter 1 and 2 of “Creating Black Americans,” author Nell Irvin Painter addresses an imperative issue in which African history and the lives of Africans are often dismissed (2) and continue to be perceived in a negative light (1). This book gives the author the chance to revive the history of Africa, being this a sacred place to provide readers with a “history of their own.” (Painter 4) The issue that Africans were depicted in a negative light impacted various artworks and educational settings in the 19th and early 20th century. For instance, in educational settings, many students were exposed to the Eurocentric Western learning which its depiction of Africa were not only biased, but racist as well.
He opened the eyes of many people who would have otherwise looked the other way. Both were slaves in America, worked hard to get an education, helped other African Americans and knew education was key to a better life. While similar in these ways they had several
In addition, he is considered one of the most important interlocutors and authors mentioned in African American history. Indeed as his works which took a broad
There are multiple examples of major changes in Africa that I could talk about for this exam. But being that I only need a few pages, I will focus on, for this exam, rise and end of the Malinke Empire and Songhay, the religious influences throughout Ethiopia, trading towns in the east of Africa, and most of the Iron Age societies. The examples of change will display how towns and kingdoms would come and go, the people settling there, or development of new productions and technology. I will then explain if the examples were of benefit or not to Africa’s continents for years to come.
African Americans face a struggle with racism which has been present in our country before the Civil War began in 1861. America still faces racism today however, around the 1920’s the daily life of an African American slowly began to improve. Thus, this time period was known by many, as the “Negro Fad” (O’Neill). The quality of life and freedom of African Americans that lived in the United States was constantly evolving and never completely considered ‘equal’. From being enslaved, to fighting for their freedom, African Americans were greatly changing the status quo and beginning to make their mark in the United States.
In Basil Davidson’s video, “Different but Equal”, Davidson examines ancient Africa, and how Africans were perceived in ancient and modern times. Davidson discusses pre-colonized Africa and its history, and how racism prevailed in the past and in modern day. By discussing early civilizations, as well as modern day perspectives, Davidson allows the viewer to have expansive information on how individuals view Africans and their culture. In Davidson’s video, he discusses how people in the past have viewed Africa and African culture, and how that relates to our perception of Africa in modern times.
He was a prolific author, writing several books and articles throughout his life on a wide range of topics, including slavery, politics, and religion. His works were marked by their clarity and insight, and they continue to be studied and appreciated today for their literary and historical
Walker’s statement on the bottom of page 69 and the top of 70,”what now masquerades as World History is largely fictitious.” raises a serious topic that causes extremely heated debates. Agreeing with the statement, I understand that Walker wants the truth of Africa and its people to be heard and believed. European historians seized and intentionally manipulated history in order to create the idea of them being the founding fathers of the African civilization. When Europeans first began their journeys to Africa they were completely baffled in the discovering of something they were intimidated by. Africa was not a place that was meaningless and worthless, but instead to their surprise it was a place that was rich in culture.
The history of the blacks is neglected in African-Americans classrooms, resulting in the development of an inferior feeling among the blacks. In chapter two of the book, Woodson states that education in American schools drifted from the truth when it started conditioning the blacks to admire the Greeks, British, and Romans. Consequently, the African-Americans developed a belief that they have a lower intellectual ability. The mindset is still present in the contemporary United States. For instance, business started by the black people are not well received in the locality they intend to serve.
Many stereotypes of African culture have emerged due to western literature and media and first hand accounts of explorers. Things Fall Apart offers a view into the truth and reality of African cultures, which are often misconceptualized by these stereotypes. Acebe shows how African society functions well without assistance from foreign travelers. In Things Fall Apart, Achebe counters the imperialist stereotypes of Africa by keeping certain words in the Igbo language, as opposed to translating them into English, to fight back against the spreading western culture and to embrace their own way of life. He also counters the imperialist stereotypes of Africa by using Igbo proverbs to show how their culture values many of the same things that western
Raj Patel, a professor at the UC Berkeley Center for African Studies, brings forth both personal experience and recollection of
The world cannot appreciate the African identity unless they don 't embrace it themselves. It is also a message for non-Africans to remember their privileged histories and acknowledge its part in their social position in the present world as the issues of identity can not be addressed unless they look at the African community from the lens of their