Differentiate between the three perspectives of Afrocentric theory discussed in class. Who are major theorists that advance each of these philosophical paradigms?

 

The Afrocentric Perspective is a culturally grounded social work practice-based model that affirms, codifies, and integrates common cultural experiences, values, and interpretations that cut across people of African descent. The Perspective encompasses the intersectionality of race, and other societal factors such as gender, ethnicity, social class, ability status and sexual orientation. Further, the Perspective acknowledges African cultural resiliency as a foundation to help social work practitioners solve pressing social problems that diminish human potential and preclude positive social change.  

Culturally Grounded

The combination and utilization of cultural sensitivity and cultural competence in social work practice.

Intersectionality

The examination of how two or more social constructions of oppression and/or privilege intersect to shape people's social environment and cumulative lived experiences.

Spiritual

In social work practice this area of assessment and intervention seeks to understand a client's sense of self, sense of meaning and purpose, in an attempt to offer solutions to better manage life challenges.

Afrocentrism (also Afrocentricity) is an approach to the study of world history that focuses on the history of people of recent African descent. It is in some respects a response to global (Eurocentric) attitudes about African people and their historical contributions; it seeks to correct what it sees as mistakes and ideas perpetuated by the racist philosophical underpinnings of western academic disciplines as they developed during and since Europe's Early Renaissance as justifying rationales for the enslavement of other peoples, in order to enable more accurate accounts of not only African but all people's contributions to world history. Afrocentricity deals primarily with self-determination and African agency and is a Pan-African point of view for the study of culture, philosophy, and history.