Books by Joyce E. King

Black Education / Preparing Teachers for Cultural Diversity / Teaching Diverse Populations

 Black Mothers to Sons: Juxtaposing African American Literature with Social Practice.

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Joyce King Responds to Can We IT Users Create Communities   

Hi Rudy,

for a curriculum project that I am working on I am reading several new publications on John Brown. Now, that Kansas battle over slavery was a "frontier" if there ever was one--which in the American tradition seems also to mean: battleground.  It seems that we are in that kind of "time" again: which way will this country and the world go? Slavery or freedom? I just learned from one of these biographers that the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" was written in honor of John Brown.  As a young girl I used to sing that song in church ("trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored. . ." ) and I never knew the meaning of the song until just today. Ah, well.

Metaphorically, John Brown also represents the tradition of radical allies (Black/white /Indian) fighting ("with that terrible" sword) for the moral high ground. It's precisely in that sense that I also "feel" your IT piece.

Black Commentator would be a great place for it. I think Kalamu ya Salaam is right about digital incursions that the youth have also been making in the music—so it's worth making that change.  Also, did you know that a Nigerian scientist, who now lives in the US, who is married to a sister—also a scientist, is credited with being “a Father of the Internet”? You should look at his website: http://www.emeagwali.com/index1.shtml. (Today I discovered that Emeagwali has at least one intrepid “detractor” –another Nigerian. . .who has posted very critical comments about his claims and reputation. Too bad.)

When you think through what might go up on your website about our new book (Black Education: A Transformative Research and Action Agenda for the New Century), consider the "Declaration of Intellectual Independence" in Chapter 2—which includes "Ten Vital Principles of Black Education and Socialization." 

One of the sisters who contributed to the book is convinced that we need to lead with that.  That is, we can go to the heart of the book's message: Black intellectuals must lead from our own beginnings (as part of the African family) if we are to be free and do anything to free our people and humanity.

So I would start the blurb on ChickenBones with the Ayi Kwei Armah quote at the end of the Afterword and then present the "Declaration"--Ten principles and the articles described in Chapter 2. But let me know what you think after you've read my chapters (Introduction, and Ch 1 & 2) at least.

While these books about John Brown are far more revealing about the real John Brown (not the crazy lunatic portrayed in textbooks), I find it interesting that these new biographies of Brown seem also to be trying to "multiculturalize" him--whiten up his cause.  On the other hand, in his book on John Brown, Du Bois keeps it on the black hand side.

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posted 27 June 2008