_Perspectives and Objectives_

"This study was not approached objectively. It is not possible to be objective towards Europe. Certainly the victims of its cultural, poilitical, and economic imperialism are not objective, if they are sane.

And Europeans cannot be 'objective' about their own cultural history. The question, then becomes: What could objectivity possibly mean in terms of human mental attitudes? The implications of this concept of objectivity are discussed critically in this study and elsewhere. It is a concept that acts to mistify Europe's victims: one of the most effective tools of European ideology.

The claim to be an absolute truth is a psychological neccesity for the European mentality. And since we have accepted it, it is an edict that has constrained most of us who have been trained in European academies. But African-centeredness breaks that hold by recognizing the truth as a process in which we immerse ourselves because of a committment, not some to some universal abstraction, but to a certain quality of life. From an African-centered perspective, we understand truth to be inseparable from the search for meaning and purpose - the unique concern of human consciousness. As African scholars, it is our responsibility to create systematic theoretical formulations which will reveal truths that enable us to liberate and utilize the energies of our people. In this view, the self-determinist, the revolutionary, and the scholar are one, having the same objective, involved in the same truth-process. The claim we make is not to a spurious 'objectivity', but to honesty. I, therefore have made no attempt to camouflage either my relationship to Europe or my goals in undertaking this study.

As Wade Nobles says, the types of questions we ask are influenced by the culture to which we belong. Theory is born out of committment and intention. Every theorist puts part of herslef (or himself) into the theoretical fromulations and conclusions that she (or he) produces. But that does not make them any less valid."

--don't have time to spell check, so i apolgize for any typos--

**********THE SIG**********

The point is for us to sit down and make some kind of agreement on some basic things and understand that what is going to be freedom to me, is not necessarily going to be freedom for you. Self-Determination must be a very important part of what We're talking about when We talk about political organization -- political activity -- that has to be underlined because everybody doesn't have the same dream. So, there has to be room for everybody to attempt to move toward that dream, as long as that dream does not include oppressing other people; exploiting other people.
-Assata Shakur

I long for the day when I can go out, eat a raw food breakfast, snack on natural fruit and vegetables, read a book, study and practice a martial art, eat dinner, cultivate my garden, play with my seeds, and rest......
-urbgriot