We will have none other than Dr. Molefi Asante himself discussing Afrocentricity and the work he is doing with the entire Pittsburgh school district. Dr. Asante will help us understand how Afrikan centered schools differ from other public schools and why so many Afrikan scholars are finding success with this culturally based teaching.

Dr Molefi Asante, the Father of Afrocentricity states, in his paper Afrocentricity, " ....Afrocentricity becomes a revolutionary idea because it studies ideas, concepts, events, personalities, and political and economic processes from a standpoint of black people as subjects and not as objects, basing all knowledge on the authentic interrogation of location."  He continued, "One of the key assumptions of the Afrocentrist is that all relationships are based on centers and margins and the distances from either the center or the margin. When black people view themselves as centered and central in their own history then they see themselves as agents, actors, and participants rather than as marginals on the periphery of political or economic experience." On this episode of "The Mind Beneath the School," we will look at this ideology and why this is the only valid way of teaching Afrikan children born in America and the Afrikan diasporic.  I know you don't want to miss this.

What would be the benefits of changing and/or infusing an African Centered Education into the public schools of Philadelphia and abandoning the eurocentric pedagogy?  Over 50% of the student population in Philadelphia are Afrikan scholars born in America and according to the most recent stastics found in the The Notebook, (a newspaper publication that deals with the Philadelphia public schools), "Pennsylvania is one of 20 states in which the African American graduation rate is below 66 percent, and one of 16 states in which the Latino graduation rate is below 66 percent (both are 65 percent). The gap between White and Black graduation rates and White and Latino graduation rates is, in both cases, 23 percentage points. The White graduation rate in Pennsylvania now stands at 88 percent." In the opinion of Afrikan an African Centered core curriculum is not only necessary, it is long over due.  

My special guest this evening is Dr. Jalaal Hayes, a born and raised scholar of North Philadelphia who graduated high school at 15 and college at 18, (Lincoln University), and became the youngest man to earn a Ph.D from Delaware State Universuty at the age of 22. This amazing brother's doctorate is in chemistry, and instead of going for six figures he is a teacher in one of South Philadelphia's public neighborhood charter high schools. He currently has his own tutoring company. I hope you will join us as Dr. Jalaal Hayes weighs in on the state of the Philadelphia public school system from a first person Afrikan perspective.

A K-12 curriculum is a very tedious road map type document which lays out what each content area will teach for that particular school year, including reading materials that will be provided. What would that look like in the Afrikan centered perspective. This episode will look at a hypothetical English curriculum. Along with the usual agenda, looking Black at what Philadephia City Council was up to this past week in terms of education and what went on at the PCOL, (Philadelphia Community of Leaders) Education Committee meeting held on the 24th. And any other place I happen to be during the week.

Some of the greatest Afrikan American leaders of yesterday were self taught, from Frederick Douglass to Malcolm X.  Eventhough these great men and women didn't follow a "homeschool" curriculum, the theory is the same. Doing what the ascribed school system cannot or will not do.  More and more Afrikan centered parents/guardians are chooing to do for their children what they feel the school system will not. Will will discuss this at length giving resources and numbers parents can call to get information about this growing alternative. Also, we will be looking at Chapter 4 of "The Mis Education of the Negro" by Ancestor Dr. Carter Woodson entitled "Education Under Outside Control". 

Finally, the usual Mind Beneath the School, "What's Happening around City Council and what's happening around Philly town. A look at the Philadelphia Community of Leaders and the Dance Theatre of Harlem is coming to town. Join me, Tuesday February 23rd at 11pm.

We will be continuing to look at the benefits of an Afrikan centered education. But before I continue I want to share a story from Dr. Molefi Asante. He told this story before introducing his guest speaker,(who I will tell you about later) at a symposium held at the Molefi Kete Asante, (MKA) Institute. Upon meeting the great ancetor Cheikh Anta Diop in Afrika he felt overwhelmed and humbled when seeing him in his office and said that he saw himself doing Ancestor Diop's work defending Africa. Ancestor Diop shook his hand and said, "Afrika needs no defense. She needs advancement". I am therefore going to be careful not to defend Afrika but advance all causes Afrikan and of Afrika, one of which is the Afrikan centered education. The first advancement will be "what does learning look like from the center?" When placing the Afrikan race at the center of learning, what changes? What, if anything, remains the same? I will also be sharing with you the knowledge I gain at my first PCOL, (Philadelphia Community of Leaders) Education meeting being held at Philadelphia Public School Headquarters downtown. And finally, a review of what Bro. Rahim Islam, (along with Kenny Gamble is founder and CEO of Universal Companies) had to say this past Saturday when he gave a symposium on the "The State of Black Philadelphia: The Future of Our Communities". It is inspirational and rejuvenating when your boss motivates and encourages you. Got a great show lined up. Join me. Hotep.

What would be the benefits of changing and/or infusing an African Centered Education into the public schools of Philadelphia and abandoning the eurocentric pedagogy?  Over 50% of the student population in Philadelphia are Afrikan scholars born in America and according to the most recent stastics found in the The Notebook, (a newspaper publication that deals with the Philadelphia public schools), "Pennsylvania is one of 20 states in which the African American graduation rate is below 66 percent, and one of 16 states in which the Latino graduation rate is below 66 percent (both are 65 percent). The gap between White and Black graduation rates and White and Latino graduation rates is, in both cases, 23 percentage points. The White graduation rate in Pennsylvania now stands at 88 percent." In the opinion of Afrikan an African Centered core curriculum is not only necessary, it is long over due.  

My special guest this evening is Dr. Jalaal Hayes, a born and raised scholar of North Philadelphia who graduated high school at 15 and college at 18, (Lincoln University), and became the youngest man to earn a Ph.D from Delaware State Universuty at the age of 22. This amazing brother's doctorate is in chemistry, and instead of going for six figures he is a teacher in one of South Philadelphia's public neighborhood charter high schools. He currently has his own tutoring company. I hope you will join us as Dr. Jalaal Hayes weighs in on the state of the Philadelphia public school system from a first person Afrikan perspective.

We will have none other than Dr. Molefi Asante himself discussing Afrocentricity and the work he is doing with the entire Pittsburgh school district. Dr. Asante will help us understand how Afrikan centered schools differ from other public schools and why so many Afrikan scholars are finding success with this culturally based teaching.

Dr Molefi Asante, the Father of Afrocentricity states, in his paper Afrocentricity, " ....Afrocentricity becomes a revolutionary idea because it studies ideas, concepts, events, personalities, and political and economic processes from a standpoint of black people as subjects and not as objects, basing all knowledge on the authentic interrogation of location."  He continued, "One of the key assumptions of the Afrocentrist is that all relationships are based on centers and margins and the distances from either the center or the margin. When black people view themselves as centered and central in their own history then they see themselves as agents, actors, and participants rather than as marginals on the periphery of political or economic experience." On this episode of "The Mind Beneath the School," we will look at this ideology and why this is the only valid way of teaching Afrikan children born in America and the Afrikan diasporic.  I know you don't want to miss this.

This is a special 2 hour segment of "The Mind Beneath the School". We will disect the miseducation of the Afrikan scholar in Philadelphia. First, we will define "miseducation" to ensure we are all on the same page. Then with the help of ancestors Carter G. Woodson, Asa Hilliard, and John Henrik Clarke, along with Dr. Umar Johnson and Noam Chomsky we will really go all in and uncover the who, what, when, where, and how of this same said miseducation. I will also unveil, "Mama's 10 Point Plan" agenda which I will present at all neighborhood meetings, (listen to Short Walk...Part 1), and anywhere I feel it will have a forum in which it will be received.

The second hour will deal with "Special Education, a whole new miseducation of the Afrikan Scholar". This is a piece I will be discussing a lot. In order to understand the true nature of special education and the Afrikan scholar you must have an understanding of the racist structure that put it in place under the guise of specialized education andrecognize buzz words like "differentiated instruction".

I will also have special guest and former scholar of mine Tierra Holmes. She will be discussing graduating from Howard University and whats in her future. This show will be informative and entertaining I promise.So stop by so we can once again uncover "The Mind Beneath the School".

The idea that the public school system is a set up for the Afrikan child is no secret, or at least it shouldn't be. Schools in Philadelphia are being closed at a record breaking rate yet millions of dollars are being spent on the building of new prisons. The question is simple...Why? "The Mind Beneath the School" will revisit this question and see if the answers are differnt than they were when we posed it 2 years ago. We will look at the presidential election and local politics to see if we are getting any answers from those we have elected or plan to elect. Finally, what should the collective Afrikan agenda be moving forward into the future. Also, my next pyramid building Imhotep High School graduate guest, Tierra Holmes, will be on tap discussing her plans after graduating from Howard University with a double major, and what she plans to do with this degree in the near future. This is a HEAVY MINDED SISTA and I look forward to having her on the show.

I have taught many Afrikans in my professional career and during the months of January and February I will be interviewing some of them so they can enlighten my listening audience about their personal journeys, and how an Afrikan centered education has helped them along this journey.  Their opinions about an assortment of topics will help us as Afrikans relate to their personal journeys. 

This week I will have photographer extraordinaire Ricky Codio, another scholar who has built huge pyramids with his artistic skills. He will be giving insight into his profession, his success in this competitive field, and how an Afrikan centered education helped to develop his talent and perspective. 

And finally, I will be giving a full report on my visit to NYC to enjoy the 4th Annual Black Comic Book Fair at the Schomburg Center, (and since I'll be in Harlem any other points of interest, I'm excited). I know I will bring back many new Afrikan centered books and learning tools to share. Once again join me as we journey to unravel "The Mind Beneath the School".