Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

A perusal of university Web sites, brochures, and the like provides an overview of sociocultural activities at universities that are often emphasized as integral parts of the co-curriculum. Although attention has been paid to general aspects of socialization within universities, there has been relatively little information about the role that newholidays and rituals have on socialization and resocialization within the academic community, especially as indigenous and international values are juxtaposed for various demographic groups. To begin addressing these matters, the authors examined some conceptual tenets of culture pertaining to holidays and rituals, engaged in participation observations of Kwanzaa and an African celebration at a comprehensive public research university and a universityassociated cultural event, and analyzed their explorations to explicate the nexuses between the conceptual and observed phenomena. They conclude by positing how cultural events and changing university and government policies interact and thus affect the essence of university life.

Keywords

Kwanzaa cultural observances higher education

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Banks, J. (1997). Educating citizens in a multicultural society. New York: Teachers College Press.

Banks, J. (2004). Educating citizens in a multicultural society (2nd ed.). New York: Teachers College Press.

Etzioni, A. (2001). The monochrome society. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Hasan, H. (2003, January 19). The Washington Post, pp. 6-7.

Ibrahim, A. (2002, October 12). The Washington Post, p. B1-B1.

Karenga, M. (1998). Kwanzaa: A celebration of family, community and culture. Commemorative edition. Los Angeles: University of Sankore Press.

Keppel, B. (1995). The work of democracy: Ralph Bunche, Kenneth B. Clark, Lorraine Hansberry, and the cultural politics of race. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Kuh, G. D. , & Whitt, E. J. (1988). Culture in American colleges and universities. In M. C. Brown (Ed.), Organization & governance in higher education (5th ed., pp. 160-169). Boston: Pearson Custom Publishing.

Lindsay, B. (1989). Cross-cultural perspectives on women in higher education. SAGE, 6 (1), 92-96.

10.

Lindsay, B. (2003, March). Insights from Ralph Bunche: University-wide policies on internationalization to ameliorate diplomatic and socio-political realities. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Comparative and International Education Society, New Orleans, LA.

11.

Madhubuti, H. R. (1972). Kwanzaa: A progressive and uplifting African American holiday. Chicago: Third World Press.

12.

Mead, M. (1995). Continuities in cultural evolution. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers.

13.

Morgan, G. (1997). Images of organizations (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

14.

Moses, Y. (1994). The role of female chief academic officers in institutionalizing cultural diversity in the academy. In J. Davis (Ed.), Coloring the halls of ivy: Leadership and diversity in the academy (pp. 45-58). Boston: Anker Publishing.

15.

Official Kwanzaa Website. (2003). Retrieved March 20, 2003, from http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.html

16.

Peterson, M. W. , & Spencer, M. G. (1990). Understanding academic culture and climate. In M. C. Brown II (Ed.), Organization& governance in higher education (5th ed., pp. 170-181). Boston: Pearson Custom Publishing.

17.

Southwick, R. (2001, September 20). After at least four assaults, some foreign students plan to leave U.S.; more protection urged. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved April 7, 2003, from http://chronicle.com/free/2001/09/2001092001n.htm

18.

U.S. Department of State,& U.S. Department of Education . (2000). International Education Policy. Retrieved April 3, 2003, from http://exchanges.state.gov/iep/

19.

Weusi-Puryear, M. (Ed.). (1995). The Kwanzaa handbook: A guide for African-American celebrants. Cupertino, CA: Woman in the Moon Publications.

African Americans and International Cultural Observances in the Higher Education Community

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References