Lifting the veil: An Afrocentric analysis of racial rankings on IQ tests.
Date
1997
Authors
Reviere, Ruth Moriah.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Dalhousie University
Abstract
Description
The year 1994 saw the revival of a debate which asks, essentially, whether Black people could ever be sufficiently competent to participate fully in North American society. Some scientists (hereditarians) answer a vehement "No" to this question, while others (environmentalists) answer "Yes". This study is not an attempt to join this debate, on either side. Rather, I am arguing that traditional Eurocentric research criteria have led to inadequate explanations of human experiences, particularly Black experiences. I am also arguing that, consequently, neither hereditarians nor environmentalists provide adequate explanations of Black intellectual behaviours. This study hopes to rectify this state of affairs by facilitating and offering a more accurate and comprehensive analysis of Black intellectual behaviours.
The objectives of this study were three-fold. The first was to design an Afrocentric analytic method; the second was to apply the Afrocentric analytic method to the theories of hereditarianism and environmentalism; and the third was to make a contribution towards a clearer definition of an Afrocentric place, as envisaged by the pioneers in Afrocentric research.
This afrocentric analytic method consists of five canons: kujitoa, ujamaa, utulivu, uhaki, and ukweli which were applied to the writings of the subjects of this study in order to unearth assumptions about the various issues covered by the canons. My analysis revealed many important similarities and differences between hereditarians and environmentalists. In fact, they are more alike than different with regard to the assumptions they hold about Black intelligence, because both groups work from clearly identifiable Eurocentric perspectives. There are, however, significant differences between the two groups, both ideological and their intentions towards Black people.
The selection of research topic and methodology were influenced by personal reasons which are a critical part of the background to this study. This interaction of the personal and theoretical provided data which became part of my analysis and are described in the first and last chapters.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Dalhousie University (Canada), 1997.
The objectives of this study were three-fold. The first was to design an Afrocentric analytic method; the second was to apply the Afrocentric analytic method to the theories of hereditarianism and environmentalism; and the third was to make a contribution towards a clearer definition of an Afrocentric place, as envisaged by the pioneers in Afrocentric research.
This afrocentric analytic method consists of five canons: kujitoa, ujamaa, utulivu, uhaki, and ukweli which were applied to the writings of the subjects of this study in order to unearth assumptions about the various issues covered by the canons. My analysis revealed many important similarities and differences between hereditarians and environmentalists. In fact, they are more alike than different with regard to the assumptions they hold about Black intelligence, because both groups work from clearly identifiable Eurocentric perspectives. There are, however, significant differences between the two groups, both ideological and their intentions towards Black people.
The selection of research topic and methodology were influenced by personal reasons which are a critical part of the background to this study. This interaction of the personal and theoretical provided data which became part of my analysis and are described in the first and last chapters.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Dalhousie University (Canada), 1997.
Keywords
Education, Tests and Measurements., Black Studies., Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies.