"The true African historian must be on a relentless search for truth and must not tremble with fear when that trust is contrary to what one would prefer to believe." --Chancellor Williams
"The first step in liquidating a people is to erase its memory. Destroy its books, its culture, its history, Then have somebody write new books, manufacture a new culture, invent a new history. Before long the nation will begin to forget what it is and what it was. The world around it will forget even faster......The struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting." - Milan Kundera
"Whoever controls the images, controls your self-esteem, self-respect and self-development. Whoever controls the history, controls the vision." - Dr. Leonard Jeffries
"We are not makers of history. We are made by history"- Martin Luther King
"We have no analysis of our history because we have no memory of our history"- Dr Asa. Hilliard
"We are satisfied to know that our race gave the first great civilization to the world; and, for centuries Africa, our ancestral home, was the great seat of learning; and when black men, who were only fit then for the company of the gods, were philosophers, artists, scientists and men of vision and leadership, the people of other races were groping in savagery, darkness and continental barbarism." - Marcus Garvey
"Without the African connection, we are a disjointed people begging for entry into somebody else's house." --John Henrik Clarke"
"First, my people must be taught the knowledge of self. Then and only then will they be able to understand others and that which surrounds them. Anyone who does not have a knowledge of self is considered a victim of either amnesia or unconsciousness and is not very competent. The lack of knowledge of self is a prevailing condition among my people here in America. Gaining the knowledge of self makes us unite into a great unity. Knowledge of self makes you take on the great virtue of learning." - Honorable Elijah Muhammad
"To illuminate our real African History, to clarify our African Present, to brilliantly project our African Future."
- Mama Kefa Nephthys
"History is a clock people use to tell their historical culture and political time of the day. It's a compass that people use to find themselves on the map of human geography. The history tells them where they have been, where they are and what they are. But most importantly history tells a people where they still must go and what they still must be" - Dr. John Henrik Clarke
"When you deal with the past, you're dealing with history, you're dealing actually with the origin of a thing. When you know the origin, you know the cause It's impossible for you and me to have a balanced mind in this society without going into the past, because in this particular society, as we function and fit into it right now, we're such an underdog, we're trampled upon, we're looked upon as almost nothing. Now if we don't go into the past and find out how we got this way, we will think that we were always this way. And if you think that you were always in the condition that you're in right now, it's impossible for you to have too much confidence in yourself, you become worthless, almost nothing. But when you go back into the past and find out where you once were, then you will know that you once had attained a higher level, had made great achievements, contributions to society, civilization, science, and so forth. And you know that if you once did it you can do it again; you automatically get the incentive, the inspiration and the energy necessary to duplicate what our forefathers did." - Malcolm X
"Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today." - Malcolm X
Beginners Black Studies Course
Black Studies- Introduction to the Study of Black History, Politics, Sociology, Psychology, Science, Art and Religion
Starting February 2012
Introduction to Black Studies Course is a 30 week beginner's course that analyses all the major areas of the Black Experience - the History, the Politics, the Psychology, the Science & Technology, the Arts, and finally, the Religion. All of the information is selected to be of relevance and interest to the Black Community. The information itself is designed to inspire, challenge, and to provoke serious thought.
The course is a highly accessible 30 week programme but it is also rigorous and content laden. It assumes no prior knowledge of the subject areas, but the adult student is taken through an avalanche of information. Reading lists and also course materials are provided
ACCREDITATION
You now have the opportunity to gain a nationally recognised qualification NCFE Level 1 Award in Personal Achievement (QCF) on completion of this course. There are no entry requirements for this Award. Learners will not have to take any exams but will need to complete a Learner's booklet/portfolio and collect appropriate evidence to show that you have met the qualification's learning outcomes. You must attend the full 30 week course to complete the accreditation.
For more information on the accreditation, contact Charmaine Simpson.
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Listen to our video testimonals from some of our students who completed the course in 2011.
We accept cash, cheques, postal orders and BACS payments. To pay by credit card, click the buy now button (transaction fees are payable). Please ensure that you have read our terms and conditions before booking using this method.
COURSE CONTENT
The course is divided into three terms consisting of the following lectures:
Term 1
INTRODUCTION
Class 1 Introduction to Black Studies
HISTORY
Class 2 The facts concerning the Origins of Humanity
Class 3 Ethnicity of the Ancient Egyptians (Part I)
Class 4 Ethnicity of the Ancient Egyptians (Part II)
Class 5 Origins of Civilisation: Middle East or East Africa?
Class 6 Negro Civilisations on the Asian Continent: Elam, Saba and the Indus Valley
Class 7 The North African Civilisations: Carthage and Numidia
Class 8 The West African Civilisations: Ancient Ghana, Mali and Songhai
Class 9 The East African Civilisations: Kush, Axum and the Swahili
Class 10 Medieval Nubia
Term 2
Class 11 Enslavement (Part I)
Class 12 Enslavement (Part II)
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Classes 13 and 14 Introduction to Black Political Realities
SOCIOLOGY
Class 15 The Birth of Radical Black Sociology
Class 16 Family Organisation in the Black community
Class 17 Black Male/Female Relationships
PSYCHOLOGY
Class 18 Franz Fanon and the Birth of Black Psychology
Class 19 Developmental Psychology of Black Children
Class 20 Research Findings of Key Black Psychologists
Term 3
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Class 21 The Black World's Contribution to Science and Technology (Part I)
Class 22 The Black World's Contribution to Science and Technology (Part II)
ART & MUSIC
Class 23 Traditions of Ancient African Art: Sahara, Nok, Igbo, Yoruba, and Benin
Class 24 Roots of Black Music
RELIGION
Class 25 Ancient and Traditional Religions of Africa
Class 26 Judaism and the Black World
Class 27 Christianity and the Black World
Class 28 Islam, Buddhism and the Black World
Class 29 Rastafari, Nation of Islam, Kingism and Black Liberation Theology
DISCUSSION
Class 30 Discussion: How can we use Black Studies?
Here are some of the comments from the evaluation forms completed by past students:
"I enjoyed the debates and discussions. Some of the other group participants were so knowledgeable but this was not at all intimidating. A very enriching experience"
"The lectures exceeded my expectations. My life will never be the same again."
"I was with like minded people and was presented with very deep and mind blowing information at times."
"The information was in an easy to understand format. The course far exceeded my expectations, it was also very well organised and professional.
"It has taken me out of the darkness, heading towards the light."
"it has really opened my eyes. Showed me how to analyse the world"
Places on this course are limited. Places are available on a strictly first come, first served basis and we anticipate that there will be a lot of demand for this course.
If you would like to attend this course or require more information on enrolment via post, please contact us
"My people suffer from lack of knowledge of self" says the ancient proverb. In Kmt (Ancient Egypt) it was said that "ignorance is evil." Let us not embrace ignorance sisters and brothers. Let us destroy it. Knowledge is power! It is the foundation for all that we must do!
