Introduction -- 1. Class Struggle in the Ivory Towers: Revisiting the Birth of Black Studies in '68 -- 2. The Afrocentric Problematic: The Quest for Particularity and the Negation of Objectivity -- 3. New Wine in an Old Bottle? The Critique of Eurocentrism in Marimba Ani's Yurugu -- 4. The Heritage we Renounce: The Utopian Worldview of Afrocentricity -- 5. What's Epistemology Got to do with it?: The "Death of Epistemology" in African American Studies -- Bibliography
Summary
"What should be the philosophical basis for African American Studies? In this groundbreaking book, Stephen C. Ferguson addresses a seminal question often ignored. Philosophy and African American Studies explores philosophical issues and problems in their relationship to Black Studies. He shows that philosophy is not a sterile intellectual pursuit, but a critical tool in gaining knowledge about the Black experience. Cultural idealism in various forms has become enormously influential as a framework for Black Studies. Ferguson takes on the task of demonstrating how a Marxist philosophical perspective offers a productive and fruitful way of overcoming the limitations of idealism. Focusing on the hugely popular Afrocentric school of thought, Ferguson's engaging discussion shows that the foundational arguments of cultural idealism are based on a series of analytical and historical misapprehensions. In turn, he argues for the centrality of the Black working class - both men and women - to Black Studies"-- Provided by publisher
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 267-284) and index
