Library Project

Three books that I found in the E-185 section of Howard's Founders Library that shared similarities between the course content were: Black Studies: Theory, Method, and Cultural Perspectives, Relations Between Africans and African Americans: Misconceptions, Myths and Realities, and Black English: A Discussion.

In Black Studies: Theory, Method, and Cultural Perspectives, Talmadge Anderson's main purpose was to explain the teaching and learning about the African American and African experiences resourceful and relevant to the unresolved issues and problems of race that still exist in American society. While reading this book one may develop a better understanding and portrait of African American and African free of mythical assumptions and negative stereotypes. Reading the preface and introduction reminded me of the first reading of the course by Dr. Carr. In Dr. Carr's article he also makes us more knowledgeable and aware of African life in order to get that voice back. According to Dr. Carr's article Africana Studies is "the academic extension of the black radical tradtion".1 Many African Americans focus on how we were as a whole after slavery instead of how we were before slavery. This mindset must change. We are so caught up in living in white America that we must think about how powerful our community once was. Most of us have failed to realize that we were not always in this position and do not even think to research about how we once were. This teaching of Africana Studies allows us to do so.

A reference Talmadge Anderson used for her book was The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. DuBois. DuBois main thesis is that "the problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color-line." His concepts of life behind the veil of race and the resulting "double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others," have become touchstones for thinking about race in America. In addition to these concepts, The Souls of Black Folk offers an assessment of the development of the race, the obstacles to that progress, and the possibilities for future progress as the nation entered the twentieth century.

In Relations Between Africans and African Americans: Misconceptions, Myths and Realities, Godfrey Mwakikagile's main purpose was to find Africa's positive attributes after all the myths she had been told. Mwakikagile states that Africa is still the "Dark Continent". Reading the preface and introduction reminded me of Soyinka's text Of Africa. In Of Africa, Soyinka also states that Africa is the "Dark Continent". As Soyinka sees it, learning from Africa's past can lead to new revelations or discoveries of the continent. For instance, he suggests that challenging common misconceptions about Africa which are rooted in the continent's colonial history is necessary for a "truly illuminating exploration"2 (xii) or discovery of Africa to take place. Soyinka helps the readers get an accurate understanding of Africa's history while exploring the unknown resources Africa has. Despite Africa's current challenges, such as European cultural domination and religious conflict, renewed economic interest in Africa presents an opportunity for the "discovery" of Africa because much of what is known about the continent is a European fiction. Also despite the claims of many European adventurers and historians to have explored Africa, Africa is yet to be discovered. People need to recognize the value of African culture, not just its material resources. Africa needs to utilized, not by discovering the geography but the culture needs to be discovered.

A reference Godfrey Mwakikagile used for his book was Africa in Chaos. Many theorists throughout the world have struggled to explain the cause of the unprecedented crises in sub-Saharan Africa. George Ayittey's Africa in Chaos is one of the leading contemporary texts that strives to explain the causes of sub-Saharan Africa's political, economic, and social underdevelopment from an internal perspective. The author argues that the underdevelopment of Africa is caused by internal, rather than external, factors. According to Ayittey, Africa's underdevelopment is due mainly to the governments' control of the economy and the political system. Ayittey holds that this leadership is responsible for ruining the states. He blames poor and corrupted leadership for Africa's underdevelopment.

In Black English: A Discussion, Karen Webb main purpose is that the varied languages