Showing papers in "Journal of Black Studies in 1985"

Black, Negro, or Afro-American? The Differences Are Crucial!

Abstract: Race names have long been associated with the development and maintenance of racial attitudes. Indeed, when the first Europeans "discovered" Africa and Africans, they were quick to label Africans "black" because this term maximized the perceived differences between African and European (Jordan, 1968). In this connection, Jordan (1968) and others (e.g., Longshore, 1979) have noted the long history of the negative connotations associated with the color black in the English lexicon. Similarly, the English language has a large number of positive connotations associated with the color white. Several researchers have argued that these positive and negative connotations are influential in the evaluative favorability/ unfavorability of the groups who have been associated

African-American Vernacular Dance: Core Culture and Meaning Operatives.

Abstract: Most scholarly work on Afro-American social dance has been concerned with its structural aspects, primarily the question of African retentions. The work of Herskovits (1941), Kealiinohomoku (1975), Wharton and Daniel (1977), Hansen (1967), Thompson (1966), Anderson (1960), Kurath (1965), Hertzberg (1977), Parrish (1942), and others has touched on this issue. Although this approach to the study of Afro-American vernacular dance is far from exhausted, it ignores certain significant aspects of black dance culture. Once it is established that the structural aspects of Afro-American dance are in fact African-derived, the researcher is free to raise questions concerning the function, meanings, and uses of the dance. The anthropologist-dancer Katherine Dunham has stated that dance has greater tenacity than any other cultural form and that it is the most permanent cultural link with the past (Isaacs, 1947). Certainly the dance of Afro-Americans is identifiable on the basis of its continuity with both traditional and contemporary African movement. Until recently, most

Black and White Communication: Analyzing Work Place Encounters

Abstract: The literature on interracial and intercultural employer/ employee communication remains scarce despite the growing number of studies in the area of cross-cultural communication. Yet the bulk of our intercultural contact with others occurs in the work place. It is possible that a predisposition against research in this area exists because of the limited amount of theoretical literature to guide any research undertaking. Kochman (1983) has advanced an ethnographic position in the study of black and white cultural styles that might add to the theoretical literature on intercultural communication in general and be applied specifically to studies of the work place. In effect, Kochman argues that blacks and whites tend to assign dissimilar meanings to verbal and nonverbal behaviors. The result of this divergence in assignation creates numerous misunderstandings when blacks and whites communicate in

Will the Real Black, Afro-American, Mixed, Colored, Negro Please Stand Up?: Impact of the Black Social Movement, Twenty Years Later

Abstract: Beginning in the sixties and reaching its peak in the midseventies, the Black Social Movement challenged a myriad of social institutions, beliefs, and values that had systematically limited African-Americans' access to legitimate opportunity structures. From its onset, academicians and nonacademicians have advanced many theories regarding the impact of the Black Movement. Needless to say, studies have examined the

Race Relations in the 1980s: The Case of the United States

Abstract: It was assumed by many social scientists that a decline in prejudice would be accompanied by a decrease in racial discrimination; a change in belief would result in a change in behavior (Feagin and Feagin 1978: 3-5). Despite declines in survey-reported racial prejudice and the elimination of legally sanctioned and overt discrimination, blacks apparently are still experiencing racially motivated restrictions. At the beginning of the 1980s, blacks within the central city, as well as within newer suburban enclaves, are as tightly confined as ever in segregated communities (Tobin, 1979; Gappert and Knight, 1982). There is also little hope of further improving their circumstance relative to whites in the foreseeable future (U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, 1978; U.S. Bureau of Census, 1979; Hill, 1978; Jones, 1981). In looking at the changes that have occurred over the last fifteen years, some analysts see race as a declining factor in determining one's life chances (Wilson, 1978). Lack of improvement in black social and economic circumstance is now due to the economic class circumstance in a no-growth economy. There is another view. Although William Wilson (1978) would interpret this change as the decline of race as a

A Liberal Legacy: Blacks Blaming Themselves for Economic Failures

Abstract: Although the notion of an American political culture is a cumbersome one to operationalize in contemporary studies of political attitudes, it is one that remains valuable. Beginning with the landmark work of Alex de Tocqueville (1955), America's unique set of basic political values has been carefully defined. Probably the most widely cited recent characterization is found in Louis Hartz's (1955) The Liberal Tradition in America (see, also, Devine, 1972). The simplicity of Hartz's argument is compelling. He expands deTocqueville's notion that America was born a land of abundant resources and was settled by eager opportunists who shared a common belief in the propriety of individual labors producing individual rewards. Hartz suggests that America's unique situation of

The Politics of Urban Violence: Critiques and Proposals.

Abstract: Various theories have been offered to explain the violence that took place in and around hundreds of black ghettos woven throughout the fabric of urban America during the decade of the 1960s. Most of the theories put forth do not adhere to the narrow thesis of empiricism as a mark of social science research. Many are also devoid of a historical perspective as a guide to meaningful and fruitful concepts. Few, if any, meet the criteria normally used by social scientists in discussing theory or theory construction. Although such pseudotheories may sensitize us to some aspect of social reality, they usually lack empirical referents necessary for verification. However, they cannot be summarily dismissed, for their acceptance is so widespread (especially in public policy) and they often contain an element of truth. Nevertheless, most are "scapegoat" hypotheses often blaming the victim. Most fall in the category of "pop" social science, often politically motivated. As H. L. Nieburg (1969: 19) points out, "some of the least satisfactory are the most widely embraced; the fervor and frequency with which they are reiterated accent the fact that they are spurious and unconvincing." Peter A. Lupsha (1969) has provided an excellent categorization of the theoretical and popular notions

The Internal Structure of the Ghetto and the Criminal Commute

Abstract: The diversity of the urban landscape continues to be part of our understanding of urban social problems in America. Urbanization and its attendant characteristics have long been sacrosanct, and our understanding of the geographical character of crime relies in part on analyzing the disparate elements of the urban matrix. Social ecologists agree that urban crime is a product of the interaction of the social, cultural, and economic factors associated with urban areas. In this way, crime has been linked inextricably to the so-called natural areas first identified by researchers of the Chicago School of Sociology. Ecologists have considered the increased opportunities for crime afforded by the central business district (CBD) and the decline in criminal activity with increasing distance from this area. The result was the recognition of the CBD and its transitional areas as the first "natural areas." The ghetto has also been labeled a "natural area" because of the characteristics of its social milieu and its physical environment. In part, the interaction of these factors has been used to explain the propensity for blacks, who primarily reside in racially segregated enclaves, to commit crimes. Considerable

The Jerusarema Dance of Zimbabwe

Abstract: Very little has been written about the dance of the Shona people of Zimbabwe and virtually nothing about the Jerusarema dance specifically. Since the nation achieved its independence in April 1980, there has been considerable interest in understanding and interpreting the cultural aspects of the society, particularly since the overlay of European values and mores distorted the traditional manifestations of certain dances. The Shona, made up of several subethnic groups, including the Ndau, Zezuru, Manyika, Karanga, Kore Kore, and Kalanga people, are the largest linguistic group in Zimbabwe. Although they are mainly situated in Zimbabwe, the Shona people may also be found in Mozambique, Zambia, and as far north as Malawi and Tanzania. In the latter two countries their influence is primarily cultural. The Shona people are the builders of Great Zimbabwe-the massive stone structures that date from the Monomatapa Kingdom in the tenth century down to the fifteenth century. Pastorialists and ironsmiths of considerable reputation, the Shona were subdued by the invading Matabele under their

The Effect of Advertising Stimuli On American Perception of Africa A Descriptive Analysis

Abstract: Advertising, functioning as the economic support of the mass media, has become an important element in America. Consequently, researchers have become increasingly concerned about the function of American advertising in the acculturation and socialization processes of black children and adults. This concern, however, has focused more on the perceptions and images of black Americans than on those living in other countries, specifically Third World countries. This is evidenced by the fact that a gamut of research has been generated on the appearance of blacks in American advertising, as well as the reaction of black and white Americans to integrated advertising. The purpose of this research project is to offer a new dimension to this area by determining how representation of Africans in American travel brochures can influence American perception of Africans. The paucity of existing research pertinent to this topic warrants further study of this nature. It is also important to study this area because of the negative stereotypes that have

Games in Black Male/Female Relationships

Abstract: As we analyze Black male/female relationships, we find that there are numerous negative interpersonal relationship games played that are destructive to sustaining a positive and healthy relationship. Most often, these "games people play" are responsible for the disintegration and disunity existing in Black male/ female relationships. Eric Berne, in his book Games People Play (1964) defines games as a recurring set of transactions, often repetitions, superficially plausible, with a concealed motivation (conscious or unconscious) toward a hidden payoff. In a more colloquial term, he defines games as a series of moves with a snare or "gimmick." It is pertinent to emphasize that the games played may be conscious or unconscious. That is, individuals may not be consciously aware of the games they may be playing, and may be resistant to having those games brought to consciousness by the nonplayer. Unconscious games are probably the most destructive, in that the player is not aware of the unmet need being aroused, and those unconscious drives are brought into the relationship from early childhood relationships with parents and others.

Black studies, white studies, and institutional politics

Abstract: During the last two decades, the numbers of Black Americans attending colleges and universities have risen, and although Blacks continue to be disproportionately enrolled in community colleges, there have also been significant gains in attendance at four-year institutions. At the same time, however, the representation of Blacks in many graduate professional schools has declined (Morris, 1981; National Center, 1981; Hill, 1983). This is not as anomalous as it might seem at first glance; the demographic decline has forced colleges and universities to recruit Black undergraduate students with an enthusiasm that platitudes about affirmative action never produced; vocational anxieties among all students have enabled many graduate professional programs to continue to conduct business as usual. Desperation among undergraduate liberal arts institutions, however, means that despite increased cant about "reverse racism" and changed federal student aid and loan policies, it is very likely that we will continue to see substantial numbers of Black undergraduates at predominantly White colleges and universities.

Party and Ideology in Nigeria A Case Study of the Action Group

Abstract: Nigerian Politics before the military takeover of 1966 was characterized by periodic promises to endear the electorate to the political parties. For the Action Group, such promises were organized around certain issues that ultimately manifested as a concrete ideology. But the open declaration of ideology did not come until 1959 when the party made public a document containing a statement of its ideology. The ideology took time to grow but existed in fragments as early as the party itself. It is the purpose of this article to trace the origins and growth of this ideology and assess its implications for the survival of the party in Nigeria. From 1941, Mr. (now Chief) Obafemi Awolowo took the responsibility for nursing the rump of the Nigerian Youth Movement in Ibadan. That movement was made up of the educated elites and remained an urban phenomenon. However, in 1945, Mr. Obafemi Awolowo formed the Egbe Omo Oduduwa in order to forge Yoruba unity. Unlike the N.Y.M., the Egbe Omo Oduduwa brought together both the traditional and the educated elites in a bid to consolidate Yoruba unity. It was advertised as a nonpolitical, cultural society for men and women of Yoruba nationality and promised to build a "virile

Minority Status and the Problem of Legitimacy.

Abstract: Psychologist Cedric Clark (1973) identified two major aspects of the Black experience: feelings of not being recognized and feelings of not being respected. Recognition and respect are embodied in the construct of legitimacy. As a minority within a White-dominated society, Black Americans must perennially address the problem of legitimacy. Given the existence of cultural domination (see Semmes, 1982), the problem of legitimacy is a critical factor contributing to ideological conflict between the Black community and mainstream (White) America. The experiences of Black students at mainstream institutions of higher education often mirror such conflict (see for example, Ballard, 1973; Black, 1972; Cruse, 1969; Metzger, 1971; Smith, 1981; Woodson, 1933). This article explores the problem of legitimacy facing Black Americans by analyzing the perceptions, experiences, and coping strategies of Black students at a White university who sought careers as artists (see, for instance, Weinberg, 1977).

The Effect of a Black Candidate in Stimulating Voter Participation in Statewide Elections: A Note on a Quiet "Revolution" in Southern Politics

Abstract: One issue that has attracted considerable attention in the political science literature concerns the magnitude of difference, if any, in the levels of electoral participation among black and white voters. Much literature assumes that blacks vote in lower proportions than do whites in the United States (Milbrath and Goel, 1977) and that this difference is particularly acute in the South (Matthews and Prothro, 1966). This proposition's validity, based upon data collected in the 1950s and 1960s, has been made questionable, however, by more recent literature examining the black-lag hypothesis. Verba and Nie (1972), for example, found no significant

The Nigerian New Year's Coup of December 31, 1983: A Class Analysis

Abstract: Nigerians awoke on the morning of December 31, 1983, to learn that the Second Republic had been replaced, during the preceding night, by a new Federal Military Government, the fourth since independence. Initially, the coup appeared to be confined to the capital city. Brigadier Sanni Abacha, delivering the 8:30 a.m. announcement on Lagos radio, proclaimed the military's mission as discharging its "national role as promoter and protector of the national interest" in doing away with an "inept and corrupt leadership" that had precipitated the "grave economic predicament" of the past four years, (West Africa [WA], January 9, 1984: 86). Meanwhile, in most states of the federation, the military presence was either very muted or, ostensibly, nonexistent. Few roadblocks, maneuvers, or struggles were evident, and there was virtually no violence. Many State radio stations continued regular programming without as much as a mention of the coup.

Walter Rodney and Africa

Abstract: In the course of the world's greatest ideological and military confrontation, Walter Rodney was born in Guyana in 1942. Following World War II a series of events set the stage for his future role as a Black scholar and political activist. Among these, the Fifth Pan-African Conference of 1945 featured prominently in charting his course to Africa. At this conference over 200 Black delegates, the majority from African colonies, formulated a resolution demanding an end to European colonial rule in Africa. This action heralded changing times for Blacks throughout the world. A decade later, Africa became involved in a nationalist struggle that culminated in independence for the major portion of the continent. Yet, despite political freedom, Africa remained economically dependent. Because African nationalism was fundamentally an implementation of Pan-African objectives, it quickened Black American interest in Africans and their problems. Rodney was thus inspired to devote his life to the study of African history. Accordingly, this article, which is divided into five themes, is intended to give some insight into his career as an Africanist. The first theme describes events that led him to specialize in African history. Then, to recreate the environment in which he produced his major work, How Europe Underdeveloped

East-West Differences in Black Economic Development

Abstract: Fundamental to economic development is the strength and stability of the business sector. As the economy of the United States becomes more complex and diversified, and factors unique to particular regions of the country become more evident, it is crucial that this primary element of the society be carefully examined. Further, developing strategies and projecting the preferred direction of a geographical area to provide a desirable quality of life for its population mean considering minority business sectors, separately and inclusively. The perceived notion of some social scientists that this country would become a melting pot of culture and cooperative (entrepre-

Joe Louis as a Key Functionary: White Reactions Toward a Black Champion

Abstract: Olsen (1978: 25-26) defines "key functionaries" as actors performing crucial activities for the total system. Systems depend on adequate performance from key functionaries for overall survival and operation. Because of their locations and activities, key functionaries are indispensable actors for any system's operations. This article investigates responses of dominants toward racial minorities when the latter occupy key functionary positions traditionally reserved for the former. Specifically, white Americans' responses toward Joe Louis, a black heavyweight boxing champion, are explored. The Joe Louis-Max Schmeling heavyweight title fight of 1938 is the primary focus because this match exemplifies Louis's role as a key functionary for the American system. I argue that Louis's achieved status as the American representative fighting against

Movement and Dance on the Sea Islands

Abstract: The Sea Islands of the United States are located along the coasts of South Carolina and Georgia, extending almost 400 miles from the southern border of North Carolina to the northern border of Florida The islands themselves, actually a part of the coastal plain, are readily accessible by sea through the streams, riverine, and brackish marshes that separate them from the mainland Some of the islands are located far enough out in the ocean to require boats for transportation; others are now connected (since the 1930s) to the mainland by bridges or causeways, making access possible by car or bus The continuing inaccessibility of some rural islands such as Sapelo and Daufuskie, a key factor in their economic and social life, perpetuates the isolation that has so significantly operated to preserve the Africanity of the folklore and culture of the Sea Island area Movement and dance in African societies worldwide are important features of the folklife Found in both the religious and the secular realms, the pulse of life is reflected throughout all age groups and social classes Movement and dance is a part of everyday and festival life; it is a suitable expressive vehicle

The Migration of Blacks to the North: 1911-1918.

Abstract: The migration of a large group of people is both an interesting and strategically significant phenomenon to study. Interesting because it is an adventure story-a somehow select group of individuals leaving the communities and lifestyles they once knew, seeking new communities and, most likely, new lifestyles. Strategically significant because it indicates several things about the communities from which the migrants are leaving and their perceptions of the areas to which they are migrating. Through studying large-scale migrations one also learns much about the individual migrants themselves, their social characteristics, their motives for leaving, and the variability of characteristics and motives among the migrants. The object of this study is the migration of blacks from the South to the North during the period from 1911 to 1918. The primary focus is on the migrants themselves-as opposed to the communities from which or to which they migrated, their social characteristics, and their motivations for leaving the South. This focus on the individual migrant differs from most historical accounts of the Negro migration during World War I. Whereas many other accounts (Florant, 1942; Grant, 1972;

Black Heroes and Afrocentric Values in Theatre.

Abstract: Heroes and the standards of heroism that a culture projects are important techniques for informing a society of behavioral ideals and expectations. One of the most important characteristics of heroism is identification by the members of a culture that produce a particular hero. They must be able to connect their own identities to that of the hero in a manner that is consistent with the values of their culture. People seek to emulate the behavior and incorporate the values of their heroes. The values and behaviors of the hero are reinforced as worthwhile goals. People who belong to the group for which the character is heroic must believe that they have a vested interest in the hero's actions and their outcomes. Linking or transferring one's personal identity to another is closely associated with the concept of empathy. However, this concept of identity bonding is much broader in scope than the emotional connections associated with the Eurocentric concept of empathy. This bonding of identities is simultaneously emotional and cognitive. It can operate on a personal level, a nationalistic level, or on a number of other subnationalistic levels.

Social Science Research and Some Implications for Afro-American Scholars:

Abstract: The impact of science and technology on the values, customs, institutions, and social arrangements of this society has been complex and widespread. This influence has been in all areas of life. It has been negative as well as positive. On the positive side, developments in alleviating human misery and suffering are phenomenal. Through advancements in scientific knowledge, the quality of living has been enhanced. Many of the once common life-threatening diseases have been eliminated. Technological advances in telecommunications and transportation place the world at the fingertips-a dial or a credit card allows access to aircraft that can travel faster than sound. Moreover, a cluster of medical, social, and psychological advances has extended human longevity significantly. Material gains or creature comforts are evident in all sections of the country, and they are visible in all of the various social, ethnic, and cultural groups. In today's households it is often difficult to see the negative side of technology. Ironically, the same technology that put material comforts and conveniences within reach of the masses also made