African American In The 1920s Essay Example for Free

African American In The 1920s canvasThe aspect of Afro-American Studies is line to the lives of Afro-Americans and those involved with the welfare of the race. Afro-American Studies is the systematic and critical study of the 2-di custodysional aspects of disastrous thought and practice in their current and historical unfolding (Karenga, 21). African-American Studies exposes students to the experiences of African-American tribe and others of African descent. It allows the promotion and sharing of the African-American culture.However, the concept of African-American Studies, like many other studies that direction on a specific group, gender, and/or creed, poses problems. Therefore, African-American Studies essential all all overcome the obstacles in order to mend the state of being for African-Americans. According to the book, Introduction to dumb Studies, by Maulana Karenga, versatile midpoint principles make of the foot of African-American Studies. Some of the c ore principles consist of 1)history, 2)religion, 3)sociology, 4)politics, and 5)economics.The core principles serve as the thematic glue which holds the core subjects together. The principles assist with the expression of the African-American Studies discipline (Karenga, 27). The core principle of history is primary factor of African-American Studies. History is the struggle and record of humans in the process of humanizing the humankind i. e. shaping it in their own image and interests (Karenga, 70). By studying history in African-American Studies, history is allowed to be reconstructed. Reconstruction is vital, for over epoch, African-American history has been misleading.Similarly, the reconstruction of African-American history demands intervention not only in the pedantic process to re assigns and reestablishes the truth of Black History, but similarly intervention in the social process to retread reality in African-American images and interests and thus, self-consciously m ake history (Karenga, 69). African American History or Black American History, a history of African-American people in the joined States from their arrival in the Americas in the Fifteenth Century until the present day.In 1996, 33. 9 million Americans, ab bug out one out of every eight people in the linked States, were African-American. Although African-American from the West Indies and other areas contain migrated to the United States in the Twentieth Century, most African- Americans were born in the United States, and this has been true since the early Nineteenth Century. Until the mid-20th century, the African-American population was concentrated in the Southern states. Even today, nearly half of all African-Americans live in the South. African-Americans also make up a significant part of the population in most urban areas in the eastern United States and in some mid-western and western cities as well .Africans and their descendants have been a part of the story of the Americas at least since the late 1400s. As scouts, interpreters, navigators, and military men, African-Americans were among those who low gear encountered aboriginal Americans. Beginning in the colonial period, African-Americans provided most of the labor on which European settlement, development, and wealth depended, especially afterward European wars and diseases decimated Native Americans (http//encarta. msn. com). Thus, history plays a role in the way African-Americans have shaped the world over time.The core concept of African-American religion has always played a vital roles in the African-American life since its beginnings in Africa. Religion is specify as thought, belief, and practice concerned with the transcendent and the last-ditch questions of life (Karenga, 211). The vast majority of African Americans practice some form of Protestantism. Protestantisms relatively loose ranked structure, particularly in the Baptist and Methodist denominations, has allowed African Americans to create and maintain separate churches.Separate churches enabled subdueds to take up positions of attractorship denied to them in mainstream America. In addition to their religious role, African American churches traditionally provide governmental leadership and serve social welfare functions. The African Methodist Episcopal Church, the first nationwide black church in the United States, was founded by Protestant minister Richard Allen in Philadelphia in 1816. The largest African American religious denomination is the National Baptist Convention, U. S. A. , founded in 1895.A significant number of African Americans are Black Muslims. The most prominent Black Muslim group is the Nation of Islam, a religious composition founded by W. D. Fard and Elijiah Poole in 1935. Poole, who changed his name to Elijiah Muhammad, soon emerged as the leader of the Nation of Islam. Elijiah Muhammad established temples in Detroit, Chicago, and other blue cities. Today, Louis Farrakhan leads the Nation of Islam. A small number of African American Muslims worship independently of the Nation of Islam, as part of the mainstream Islamic tradition (http//encarta. msn. com).Presented with the fact that African-American religion is predominately Judeo-Christian, the tendency is to view it as white religion in black face. However, the rooting of the two religions varies due to the historical and social experiences (Karenga, 212). African-American over time has somewhat declined in its power. The church was once the sole basis of the community, especially to those in need. Today, this is speculated to be the link in the decline in the bonding of the African-American community. The core principle of African-American sociology integrates the various aspects and social reality from an African-American perspective.African-American sociology is defined as the critical study of the structure and public presentation of the African-American community as a whole, as well as the various un its and processes which compose and define it, and its relations with people and the forces external to it (Karenga, 269). African-American sociology involves the study of family, groups, inceptions, views and values, relations of race, class and gender and related subjects. The African-American community, like other communities, is defined by the sharing of common space.Parts of its common space, however, are delimited areas of living, much(prenominal) as ghettos, which not only close African-Americans in the community, but simultaneously shuts them out from the price of admission and opportunities available in the larger, predominately Caucasian society (Karenga, 302). The concept of isolation creates areas of poverty. Socially, isolation in ghettos hampers the cycle of mixed bag society, allowing prevailing stereotypes to surface. The immense concentration of African-Americans is a reason for disadvantages, such as joblessness, poverty, etc.Statistics suggest that the oeuv re rate issue is an essential on among African-American women. The average rate of unemployment among African-American women in the mid-eighties was 16% and was high for African-American men (Giddings, 350). Thus, the concept of diversity prevents African-Americans from thriving socially. The core concept of African-American politics can be defined as the art and process of gaining, maintaining and using power (Karenga, 311). The institution of politics has played a role in the African-American community since the 15th amendment was passed, allowing African-American men the right to vote (Constitution).In order to obtain political power, however, at that place are eight bases 1) key positions in government 2) take strength 3) community control 4) economic capacity 5) community organization 6) possession of critical knowledge 7) coalition and alliance and 8) coercive capacity. In order to attain these, African-Americans must unite, for unity strengthens weak groups (African-Ameri cans) and increases the power of others (Caucasians) (Karenga, 363). Over time, African-Americans have made substantial strides in politics.Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, who ran for the Democratic Partys presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, brought exceptional support and force to African-American politics. In 1989, Virginia became the first state in U. S. history to elect an African- American governor, Douglas Wilder. In 1992, Carol Moseley-Braun of Illinois became the first African-American charwoman elected to the U. S. Senate. Today, Moseley-Braun is a candidate for the Presidency of the United States (Franklin, 612). There were 8,936 African-American office holders in the United States in 2000, showing a net increase of 7,467 since 1970.In 2001, there were 484 mayors and 38 members of Congress. The Congressional Black Caucus serves as a political alliance in Congress for issues relating to African- Americans. The appointment of African-Americans to high national off ices? including Colin Powell (chairman of the U. S. Armed Forces Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1989-1993 Secretary of State, 2001-present), Ron Brown (Secretary of Commerce, 1993-1996), and Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas? also demonstrates the change magnitude power of African-Americans in the political arena (http//encarta. msn.com). Despite the advances of African-Americans in the political scene, the rate of voting has immensely declined compared to 40 years ago. According to statistics, less than 20% of African-Americans amid the ages of 18 and 24, the most vital voting age group, voted in the last 40 years (http//www. rockthevote. org ). African-American votings disappointing decline over time has become a setback in regards to power, for politics control most of the issues that concern society, such as healthcare, housing, and employment issues that the African-American community are in need of improving.The core concept of economics is defined as the study and process of pr oducing, distributing (or exchanging) and consuming goods and services. Economically, African-Americans have benefited from the advances made during the Civil Rights era. The racial disparity in poverty rates has narrowed to some extent. The African-American middle class has grown substantially. In 2000, 47% of African-Americans owned their homes. However, African-Americans are still underrepresented in government and employment.In 1999, median income of African American menage was $27,910 compared to $44,366 of non-Hispanic Caucasians. Approximately one-fourth of the African-American population lives in poverty, a rate three times that of Caucasians. In 2000, 19. 1 % of the African-American population lived below poverty level as compared to 6. 9% of Caucasians population. The unemployment gap between African-Americans and Caucasians has grown. In 2000, the unemployment rate among African-Americans was almost twice the rate for Caucasians.The income gap between African-American an d Caucasian families also continue to widen. Employed African-Americans earn only 77% of the wages of Caucasians in comparable jobs, down from 82% in 1975. In 2000, only 16. 6% of African-Americans 25 years and older earned bachelors or higher degrees in contrast to 28. 1% of Caucasians. Although rates of births to unwed mothers among both African-Americans and Caucasians have risen since the 1950s, the rate of such births among African-Americans is three times the rate of Caucasians (DeBose, 1).Thus, the state of African-American economics have flourished over time, yet the Great Compromiser in a state of improvement. Whether one talks about poverty, incomes, jobs, etc. , all imply and strike the concern with economics in the African-American community (Karenga, 355). Conclucively, the possibility of problems arising towards the discipline of African-American Studies are root in the birth of the discipline itself (Karenga, 476). The mission of the discipline, problematic administ rators, and campus opposition are examples of obstacles that often attempt to prevent the missions of African-American Studies.However, African-American Studies has continued to defend its stance over time. Thus, as long as there is an African-American culture, the quest for knowledge in the African-American studies field will remain. Works Cited DeBose,Brian. Reclaiming the Mission. Nov. 2002 . Franklin, John Hope. From slaveholding to Freedom. Nashville, TN McGraw-Hill, 2000. Giddings, Paula. When and Where I Enter . New YorkPerrenial, 1984. Karenga, Malauna. Introduction to Black Studies. Los Angeles University of Sankore Press ? Third Edition, 2002. http//encarta. msn. com http//www. rockthevote. com.