Cultural War: The Critical Need for African Centered Education

Abstract

This paper presents the findings from interviews of renowned Black education scholars discussing the challenges Black students are facing in the K-12 educational system. The paper begins with an introduction outlining the “cultural war” that has been waged against Black youth, it provides an overview of Afrocentric theory as it is used in the field of education, provides the methodology used to glean data, offers an analysis from interviews, and provides implications and discussion for the ways in which Black students would be better served if education policy, research, and practice were positioned to acknowledge the successes that African centered education has had among Black youth. The findings include three interconnected themes, including: the need for a culturally centered and culturally responsive pedagogy as educational imperatives, the role of expectations and cultural centeredness in shaping educational achievement, and the significance of intergenerational learning and humanely equitable relationships in fostering the academic and personal growth of Black students.

Plain Language Summary

The Cultural War: The Critical Need for African Centered Education

This article argues that Black students are often harmed by an educational system that ignores or devalues their culture, history, and lived experiences. Through interviews with leading Black education scholars, the study explains that African Centered Education (ACE) can help improve Black students’ academic success, identity, confidence, and sense of belonging.

The scholars emphasize that culturally centered teaching, high expectations, positive relationships, and community involvement are critical for helping Black students thrive. The article concludes that schools, teacher preparation programs, and policymakers should take African Centered Education more seriously as a pathway toward educational equity and empowerment.