“Afrocentrism: Ideology that promotes the study of history from an African point of view, viewing Africans as agents of history and not merely as subjects of investigation. One of its controversial tenets is that ancient Greek culture, especially philosophy, owes its accomplishments to Egypt, and idea brought to widespread attention by Martin Bernal’s Black Athena (1989). The debate on Afrocentrism has sparked charges and countercharges of racism, in part due to extremist pronouncements on both sides. A number of urban schools in the United States now offer an Afrocentric curriculum.”
Excerpted/Adapted from: Stevens, Mark A., Ed. Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Encyclopedia. Springfield, Massachusetts: Merriam-Webster, 2000.
