African Perspectives in American Higher Education: Invisible Voices

by Festus E. Obiakor, Jacob U. Gordon (Editor)

Overview

"Many Africans dream about coming to the United States to get their education and go back to their respective countries. But, political, economic, and social upheavals in Africa have minimized the absoluteness of such dreams. As a consequence, Africans are staying in the United States to survive against all odds. This survival has had far-reaching costly and unhealthy price tags. Many Americans expect Africans to contribute their shares in multidimensional ways. Ironically, as they contribute immensely to their respective communities, they are expected to be silent and invisible. When they are quiet, they are assumed to be "inferior;” and when they are confident, they are assumed to be "arrogant.” Either way, their positive or negative responses carry devastating price tags and misinterpretations. This book makes the invisible voices of Africans heard. It shows their contributions to the American academy and highlights their impacts on teaching, research, and service at colleges and universities. African Perspectives in American Higher Education is a positive ground-breaking book for this century. It demonstrates the greatness of African peoples and the great opportunities available in the U.S. While on the one hand, this book reveals the devastating effects of poor leadership in African nations, especially the carelessness of African leaders regarding the brain-drain that is hampering their nations' political, economic, and social advancements; on the other hand, it unveils the dangers of negative conclusions, illusory generalizations, prejudicial suppositions, and racist tendencies prevalent in American institutions, especially in colleges and universities. In the end, this bookdescribes the trials and tribulations of humanity and the joys of human survival. It is an excellent text for undergraduate and graduate courses in African studies, American studies, African American studies, history, and anthropology. Accordingly, scholars, educators, community leaders, and college/university presidents and Boards of Regents will find it useful”….from Preface.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781590336830
Publisher:	Nova Science Publishers, Incorporated
Publication date:	04/01/2003
Pages:	138
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.60(d)

Table of Contents

Foreword (Ifeanyi G. Achebe, Franciscan University of Steubenville)
Preface
Chapter 1: Through the Back Door: From Invisibility to Visibility (Festus E. Obiakor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)
Chapter 2: Close Encounters: A Pilgrimage of Penance and Expiation (Teshome Abebe, Eastern Illinois University)
Chapter 3: Surviving the "Killing Zones” of Higher Education (Nomsa Gwalla-Ogisi, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater)
Chapter 4: Bees in My Bonnet (G.N. Uzoigwe, Mississippi State University)
Chapter 5: Connecting Teaching and Mentoring to Learning: my Contributions to the American Academy (Diola Bagayoko, Southern University and A&M College)
Chapter 6: Adventures in Turbulent Seas (Gathoga Mukuria, Franciscan University of Stuebenville)
Chapter 7: A Complex Web of Acceptance and Misgiving: my Journey in American Higher Education (Godwin Okebaram Uwah, College of Charleston)
Chapter 8: "Seeing Color:” my Journey in American Higher Education (Omiunota Nelly Ukpokodu, University of Missouri-Kansas City)
Chapter 9: My Brother's Teacher: an African at the Vanguard of American Higher Education (Augustine Konneh, Morehouse College)
Chapter 10: Making a Difference: my Contributions to American Higher Education (Damien D. Ejigiri, Southern University and A&M Colleg)
Chapter 11: And Don't Call me Arrogant (Mohammed M. Aman, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)
Chapter 12: My Experiences as a Growing Scholar in U.S. Higher Education (Zandile P. Nkabinde, University of Maine at Farmington)
Chapter 13: I am the Person I Know Best: Perspectives on American HigherEducation (Jacob U. Gordon, University of Kansas)
Index.