The Utopian Worldview of Afrocentricity: Critical Comments on a Reactionary Philosophy

Cameron Gilmore Professor Stephen Ferguson great(p) Studies 202 14 September 2012 The Utopian Worldview of Afrocentricity searing Comments on a Reactionary philosophy In this paper, I will study Stephen Fergusons phrase The Utopian Worldview of Afrocentricity sarcastic Comments on a Reactionary school of thought. Throughout Fergusons oblige he discusses the limitations of Afrocentrism and the prejudicious effects it may bring in because of the beliefs and ideas expressed from the philosophical view.Following the summary of the articles main points and themes, I sh every(prenominal) thrive upon the articles erudite theme, temporary hookup illuminating the authors stimulus induction of this worldview. Ferguson introduces the demander to the article with a metrical composition entitled Heritage by Countee Cullen. enchantment Ferguson only includes the first stanza of that poesy, the entirety of the poetry somewhat relates to the view of Afrocentrism in how Cullen arti culates the dish antenna of Africa, solely by the end of the poem the mood has changed to Cullens current support and how it has changed.Like the poem the main point of the article is that Afrocentrism may be something of a ingenuous thing, but it drive outnot be any great to record if it is only based of come to of fantasy or fairy recital as Ferguson states. There ar many a(prenominal) examples on the claims that ar do on Afrocentrism and how it clouds the rich African-American or African heritage.One line from the passage says, the Afrocentric quest for an dependable past ignores the fact that the Pharaohs in conjunction with the priests were an tyrannical and exploitative aristocracy. Dreaming of what Kwame Nkrumah termed an idyllic African classless society is a wrong-headed flak for Black Studies (Ferguson). I found that this strongly demonstrates how furthestfetched ideas may become, mostly, when Afrocentrism becomes adept a ploy to console the African-America n subspecies from times of struggle or disparity.Along with the negative side of the Afrocentric view, Ferguson greatly enlarge on how it is even more strategic to select, research, turn back and teach all parts of history in which, he includes a cited passage, The Mis-Education of the Negro, indite by Carter G. Woodson which basically says that it is important to read about great historic heroes much(prenominal) as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, but it is just as important to read about the slaves that provided all the labor that contributed and made this country what it is nowadays.One final theme that I received from the article is that kindred todays Eurocentric view, which is also unspoilt of fallacy, Afrocentrism would not be too far from it with all the misleading and misguided illustrations, as opposed to simply researching and collecting facts, like this quote from Carter G. Woodson used in the article, lam prejudice was based on wide-spread ignorance a nd that carefully gathered scientific proof would head off it (Ferguson).Throughout this review of Fergusons The Utopian Worldview of Afrocentricity tiny Comments on a Reactionary philosophical system, I have discussed the authors main points which I believe are that Afrocentrism is frequently filled with ideal views and utopian ideas, that African-Americans used these ideas at times of rigorousness to uplift the race, that it is just as important to research and learn about European history as well as every other history and that just as Eurocentrism can be complex in terms of actuality, so can Afrocentrism.I would have to honestly agree with all of these points, especially after the effrontery details and examples, however I do care that the author has made a generalization of this Afrocentric view. I believe that many pile nowadays know of the oppression set about during the era of Ancient Egypt and Africa, and those phrases and terms given by early generation African-A mericans which supply to the false ideas to Afrocentrism have been proven to be exaggeration.In conclusion, I have reasoned that piece Ferguson has given great details and is slump on his claims, this does not mean that they are widely believed as much as his says, which in turn gives of a since of generalization.