RESOURCES (print, audio, video and internet)
Suggested Readings For Beginners & the curious. Books studied should cover 6 areas: 1) Afrikan History, 2) Afrikan Culture, and 3) Afrikan Spirituality, 4) Sociology 5) Psychology and 6) Economics
1. "Afrocentricity: The Theory of Social Change" by Molefi K. Asante
A great introduction and orientation to the philosophy of Afrocentricity
2. "Survival Strategies for Africans in America: 13 Steps to Freedom" by Anthony Browder
An outline of the 13 basic things every Afrikan centered person must become knowledgeable of e.g., Step 2: "Become Aware of the Power of the Media", Step 7: "Develop Cultural and Holistic Approaches to Health", Step 10: "Learn to Interpret Religious Imagery, etc.
3. "Africa: Mother of Western Civilization" by Dr. Yosef AA ben-Jochannon
CAUTION: THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART! Consider yourself warned.
4. "Before the Mayflower" by Lerone Bennett
A panoramic view of black history, beginning with the chapter entitled "African Beginnings" which is an overview of Afrikan history prior to the Maafa ("The Geat Disaster" a.k.a. the TransAtlantic Slave Trade a.k.a. The Holocaust of Enslavement), proceeding through the Maafa itself, and winding up with the Civil Rights and Black Power movements of the late '50's through early 70's, and a little bit beyond.
5. "Notes for an African World Revolution" by Dr. John Henrik Clarke
A nice compilation of some of the most important essays and lectures of the late, great Dr. Clarke. Includes an important chapter entitled "Image and Mind Control in the African World"
6. "Introduction to African Civilizations" by John G. Jackson
Picks up where the first chapter of "Before the Mayflower" leaves off, with a more detailed look at Afrikan history prior to the Maafa.
7. "The Destruction of Black Civilization" by Chancellor Williams
A classic by one of the pioneers in the field of Afrikan Centered research & writing on Afrikan history. It too goes into detail about pre-Maafa Afrikan history, the good, the bad, and the ugly. No library is complete without this one.
8. "Yurugu: An African Centered Critique of European Cultural Thought & Behavior" by Marimba Ani.
If you’ve ever wondered why white people behave as they do toward people of color-genocide, enslavement, discrimination, and the falsification of the history of black people, you need look no further than this in depth analysis of white history, philosophy, anthropology, and social psychology. Another title for this book could be "Why The White Man Is So **** Mean: Understanding The Developmental Psychology of the White Race." It’s a tough read (600+ pages of dense academic prose), but well worth the time it takes to get through it. After studying this book I guarantee you’ll never look at the white race-or the black race-the same.
9. “Metu Neter, vols 1 & 2" by Ra Un Nefer Amen.
This is an excellent, in depth look at the nuts and bolts of the spiritual wisdom of the Ancient Black World before Christianity & Islam. For me it is the gold standard by which all other books on Afrikan spirituality are to be measured. There is an excellent historical introduction to ancient black cultures of Kemet (misnomered Ancient Egypt), Canaan, and Indus Kush and why the women in those cultures were held in high esteem. The author discusses the anatomy and function of the human spirit, and elaborates on the 7 divisions of the spirit along with how each level functions (or malfunctions) to influence human behavior. He also gives a workable prescription on how to change maladaptive behaviors and attitudes through meditation. If you’re ready to get rid of bad habits once and for all, check this one out. It and companion CD's are available at
www.tauienterprises.com.
10. “The Falsification of Afrikan Consciousness” by Amos N Wilson, a black psychologist who explores how white history and historiography have warped the minds of black people. His insights into the inner workings of the black psyche and how it is constantly being manipulated by the white image controllers (mass media, educational system) to the advantage of the white power structure are mind boggling to say the least.
11. “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa” by Walter Rodney. You wanna understand why Africa is in the shape its in today? The title says it all.
12. “Genocide and Covert Operations in Africa” by investigative reporter Wayne Madsen. A behind the scenes look at the hidden hand-i.e., the role that the Western Powers play in the present day problems that plague the continent.
13. “Blue Print for Black Power” by Amos N. Wilson.
A 900 page book that could also be entitled “Everything-and I mean EVERYTHING- That Black People Should Be Doing To Get Our Economic House In Order.”
14. “Personal Finance for Dummies” by Eric Tyson.
HUH??!! Yep, even Afrocentrists need to know about personal finance. How we gonna get our economic house in order if we can’t manage our own personal finances? This book covers it all, including debt management, investing, saving, insurance, and more.
The list is far from complete, but this is about 6 to 9 months worth of reading material and is enough to get one started on the road to freeing the Afrikan within. (“Inside every Negro is an Afrikan struggling to get out.” Maulana Karenga)
Recommended Videos:
1. “Cleansing Ourselves of European Concepts” by Marimba Ani, author of “Yurugu.” available at
www.blackconsciousness.com
2. “To Be An Afrikan Woman” by Marimba Ani.“ Also available at the above website.
3. “Cheik Anta Diop Speaks on African History” (picked this one up at an Afrikan Marketplace during Kwanzaa)
4. “The African Origin of Freemasonry” by Ashra Kwesi Available at
www.kemetnu.com
5. “An African Centered Tour of Washington, D.C." (Did you know that the city of Washington, D.C. is laid out according to spiritual, astronomical and geometric principles that originated in the Nile Valley civilizations of Afrika?) There is a companion book that goes with the video.
6. “Vanishing Evidence of African Civilization” by Professor Manu Ampim. I believe this one can be ordered from his website at
www.manuampim.com.
7. “Sankofa” by independent film maker Haile Gerima. Sankofa is an Akan word that means, "We must go back and reclaim our past so we can move forward; so we understand why and how we came to be who we are today."
Lectures and interviews available on CD:
These are too numerous to list. Go to the LIB Radio website (
www.LIBRadio.com), click on “Purchase CD” and scroll down the list of available lectures, DVD’s, and talk radio interviews. There are over 800 titles to choose from! Pay particular attention to anything that features U.K. based Amen Ra Neter. The brother is deep!!
Internet resources:
www.manuampim.com
www.blackconsciousness.com
www.ascac.org (Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations)
www.geocities.com/vandeelen/Afrocentric/index.html
www.asante.net
www.*******************
www.ayaed.com
www.harvestinstitute.org
www.africanbynature