Reclaiming Power Through Historical Thinking and African Epistemologies (9-12)

Throughout African history, Western epistemologies (ways of knowing) have dominated the telling of the continent’s story, often erasing or misrepresenting African contributions to world history. African epistemologies, such as oral traditions, community knowledge systems, and land-based ways of knowing, offer alternative perspectives on the past. Oral history played a central role in preserving the histories of African empires, from the Kingdom of Mali to the Ashanti, while mapping was done in ways that reflected African spirituality and connection to the land. By using these tools, African societies resisted the control of colonial powers and preserved their knowledge systems.

New Jersey Student Learning Standards:

• 6.2.12.HistoryCC.5.d: Relate the lingering effects of colonialism to the efforts of Latin American, African, and Asian nations to build stable economies and national identities.
• 6.2.12.HistoryUP.3.a: Analyze the extent to which racism was both a cause and consequence of imperialism and evaluate the impact of imperialism from multiple perspectives.