African American Studies Commons^™

Superb North Omaha Vote In The Primary: Black Votes Mattered, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

For the first time in decades north Omaha can be proud of its voting. The turnout for north Omaha equaled the turnout for all Douglas County voters, that’s very good news. For years I and other voter participation advocates have been bemoaning the low turnout in North Omaha. I have written a book (Economic Cataracts), this column and the Black Votes Matter initiative all have been directed toward increasing the awareness and education needed for our community to get its voting house in order. The problem has been twofold: the raw low number of votes cast and maybe more important, …

It Is Time To Vote North Omaha, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Voting activity in North Omaha.

From The National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis, Tennessee, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

I am writing my column for this issue from historic Memphis, Tennessee. On April 3rd, 1968 Martin Luther King came to Memphis at the invitation of my old friend Rev. Billy Kyles. King was in Memphis to support the strike and conduct a March for the African American sanitation workers who were working under dangerous conditions, discrimination, the death of two black workers and attempts to unionize. King was returning because a month before, a protest March was suspended after violence broke out. He was assassinated by James Earl Ray, the next day, April 4th, while standing on the balcony …

Needed An Investment In Our Youth: Civic Education, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

I have longed thought that slowly but surely the educational curriculum for our youth has gravitated away from, physical exercise, technical skills training and the subject of this article Civic education. After years of direct working with our community’s voters and non-voters at all ages I have learned how little we know about civics, the voting processes, governmental structures (at all levels), when to vote and how to vote. The problem is very serious with our youth, very serious. Elementary, secondary school children have little civic education and knowledge. There are exceptions, when there are sensitive teachers, but systematically we …

2016 North Omaha Voter: “Oops I Should Have Voted”, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

When the 2016 election becomes history, after the November election for President, the vote on Nebraska’s death penalty, US congressman and many other important offices, I hope I don’t have to hear residents of my community say to me, “Oops I should have voted”.

To my beloved community I say. “The next four to eight years could be the worse we will faced in decades”. This a potential reality if we do not go to the polls. But to the credit of north Omaha I am feeling the surge of our community, recognizing that we must get out and vote …

Omaha Star Exclusive Report: 2016 Nebraska Caucus (North Omaha), Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

The 2016 Presidential race came to Nebraska this past week. Recently Chelsea Clinton visited Big Mama’s Kitchen, Bill Clinton was in Benson and north Omaha’s own and Candidate Bernie Sanders’ National press Secretary, Symone Sanders also made a stop at Big Mama’s. Not since 1968 has North Omaha had such visits from the presidential campaign big hitters. It was about time that the community that gave President Obama historical split electoral Vote (2008) get the respect we deserve. Our community has needs and views on key issues and we need to be heard.

Breaking News: Its Official, The 2016 Nebraska Election Cycle Has Begun, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Black Votes Matter Initiative:
The initiative has been launched. To raise community consciousness and directed to increased voter turnout. The North Omaha Voter Project will place 1000 free Black Votes Matter yard signs in North Omaha. There will informational meetings, voter registration, ride to the polls, early voting assistance, community forums and Get Out The Vote (GOTV) door knocking and phone calls as well as numerous speaking engagements on voting. We will join with many partners in our efforts; Neighborhood associations, Social and civic organizations, Clergy and north Omaha leadership. We are supportive and partner with the league of …

Black Votes Matter 2016 Initiative Launched!!, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Saturday, January 23rd at a full house kickoff meeting, attended by over 100, the Black Votes Matter 2016 initiative was launched. Members from the community, neighborhoods, Clergy and leadership were joined by candidates Jake Seaman, Jill Brown and Dr. Larry Bradley who are running for the State Senate seat currently held by Senator Tonya Cook. Justin Wayne also may run. Senator Cook cannot run because of term limit laws. Also attendees were treated to presentations from all three Democratic Presidential candidates. Nebraska representatives for Clinton, Sanders and O’Malley made pitches and sought volunteers.
Attendees also were briefed on the upcoming …

2016 Nebraska Democratic Caucus: Everything You Wanted To Know About The Caucus But Were Afraid To Ask, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

The process of becoming the President of the United States is complex and lengthy. It begins with each of the major political parties deciding who will get the party’s nomination and become the Democratic or Republican Party’s candidate to become the President. It is important to note that the first step is entirely within each party separately. The Democrats do their thing as do the Republican. In a later column I will dissect the anatomy of a presidential campaign. This article will focus on primary/caucus season, which begins February 1st in Iowa.

Leadership Bankrupt Of Unity Is Bankrupting Our Community, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

In a community of great needs, we cannot afford to have dis-unity among our leadership. We have many assets, but North Omaha has many liabilities or needs; Economic Development, sustainable Jobs, small business ownership and growth. We need accountable leadership who see the value of unity for the good of the community, above all personal agendas.

Black Lives, Black Poverty And Black Votes Matter, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

North Omaha it is time for our community to “straighten up and fly right”. That’s an old black phase and a line in an old song translated means let’s get our act together. Once again we have a major election year, 2016, facing us. Once again we have a lot at stake. Once again we have an opportunity to make a difference for our community by voting in our own interest. Once again I am pleading to our community to not again squander our power and our leverage by not voting. My beloved here is too much at stake.

The Changing “Face” Of North Omaha, Part 2, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

In my last and most recent column entitled THE CHANGING “FACE” OF NORTH OMAHA”, I discuss the advent of a steady migration into North Omaha from a worldwide immigrant and refugee population. I listed: Sudanese, Somalian, Vietnamese, Laotian, El Salvadorian, Guatemalan, refugee, immigrant, Afghanistan. Mexican, Iranian, Burmese to name a few. All great people and cultures in their own right. But my focus was and is on the resulting dynamics. My focus is narrowed to North Omaha Only. I suggest you read part1 for understanding of my thrust. In summary I declare that these new communities by in large bring …

The Changing “Face” Of North Omaha, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Amid my constant cry for north Omaha Blacks to wake up and realize how much our vote matters for our self-interest and in spite of my understanding of the deep and profound reasons poverty stricken communities do not vote, it is time to step back and review the true faces of North Omaha and assess our options.

Lessons From The University Of Missouri, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

There are many stories, many angles, many perspectives and many opinions as to the impact of the recent events at the University of Missouri (UM). While I find these reactions and opinions interesting my focus will continue to be our community. However, what lessons can we deride from UM and apply to our challenges right here in river city.

Voter Turnout: Ferguson, Mo Is A Teachable Moment In History In Why Black Votes Matter, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

Earlier this month I visited Ferguson, Mo. I stood by the signs saying welcome, and population 21,203. What the signs did not say: “here lies the grave of a young Black male named Michael Brown who should not have died”, “here is a city that has a population of nearly 70% Black” and “here is a black population that voted at only 8%”. Yes only 8% voter turnout. Ferguson, Mo black residents contributed to the environment that killed young Brown. Mostly all of the elected officials and all but 3 of the police in Ferguson are white. That is the …

Breaking News: How To Vote, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

In this column, we have been and will continue to discuss the need to vote and why to vote. Now, let’s focus on “How to Vote”. Maybe you think you already know how to vote. Maybe you do, maybe you don’t. Before I send you off to vote “half baked”, let’s make sure you know how. Knowing how to vote will maximize your vote. With only a small percentage of us voting, let’s make sure that we voters get the most out of our vote. Black Votes Matter.

The Resurrection Of Jim Crow And The Birth Of A Non-Voting Black Community, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

THE RESURRECTION OF JIM CROW AND THE BIRTH OF A NON VOTING BLACK COMMUNITY. BOTH NEED A QUICK BURIAL. After the passage of the 15th amendment to the US constitution in 1870, Black folk were given the right to participate as citizens and given the right to vote.

This Column Began Last Month With A Hopeful Call For Our Community To Energize And Understand That Black Votes Matter, Preston Love Jr.

Black Studies Faculty Publications

This column began last month with a hopeful call for our community to energize and understand that Black Votes Matter. We have celebrated the 50th anniversary of the important 1965 Voting Rights Act and the one-year anniversary of the tragedy of Ferguson, Mo which includes a total lack of voter recognition that Black Votes Matter in a city with 67% Black population.

The Sociocultural Functionality Of Afrikan Syncretism: The Case Of Spirituality, Nikitah O. Imani

Black Studies Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

Presented at the National Council of Black Studies meetings in Miami, Florida on March 8^th, 2014.

An Invitation To Debate: Envisioning An Africa-Centered Perspective, Engaging Sociological Endeavor, Nikitah O. Imani

Black Studies Faculty Publications

This article frames the focus of this special Africana studies issue of Critical Sociology, discussing its theoretical and epistemological necessity for the discipline, its potential for critical informing inquiry within the discipline with respect to Africana social phenomena as well the human experience, the challenges it poses for the traditional conduct of sociological inquiry and what the particular pieces selected for this issue contribute to each of these.

The Butler, Carol Miles

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of The Butler, directed by Lee Daniels.

An Invitation To Debate: Envisioning An Africa-Centered Perspective, Engaging Sociological Endeavor, Nikitah O. Imani

Black Studies Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

Presented at the 2013 James Madison University Africana Studies Conference October 18, 2013

Ukhamba: The Implications Of Amateur Domestic Genealogical Research For African Socio-Historical Analysis, Nikitah O. Imani

Black Studies Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

Presented at the 37^th annual conference of the National Council of Black Studies Indianapolis, Indiana March 14, 2013

The Implications Of Africa-Centered Conceptions Of Time And Space For Quantitative Theorizing: Limitations Of Paradigmatically-Bound Philosophical Meta-Assumptions, Nikitah O. Imani

Black Studies Faculty Publications

“The Implications of Africa-centered Conceptions of Time and Space for Quantitative Theorizing,” looks at Eurocentric scientific conceptions of time and space, how they effect theorizing concerned with these matters, and how they are altered as one considers non- Eurocentric conceptions. For example, one might look at the assertion of circularity, holism, and continuity in contrast to linearity, disjunction, and discontinuity. The example focused on is a scholarly article focusing on constraints associated with time travel. The article deconstructs the piece as Eurocentric and re-conceptualizes it from an African-centered cultural and social perspective.

The Implications Of Africa-Centered Conceptions Of Time And Space For Quantitative Theorizing, Nikitah O. Imani

Black Studies Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

Presented at the National Conference of Black Studies March 9th, 2012 in Atlanta, GA.

The Pyramidal Pillars Model Of Afrikan Communal Development, Nikitah O. Imani

Black Studies Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

Presented at the Black African Holocaust Conference in Atlanta, Ga November 2010

The Commodification Of Victimization And Concomitant Glorification Of Mediocrity, Nikitah O. Imani

Black Studies Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

The Commodification of Victimization and Concomitant Glorification of Mediocrity presented at the Annual Meetings of the Southern Sociology Society Atlanta, Georgia April 2010

The Terminological Problem In Africana Studies, Nikitah O. Imani

Black Studies Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

Delivered lecture “The Terminological Problem in Africana Studies” at the Africana Studies Annual Interdisciplinary Symposium, 2009 "AFRICA AT THE CROSSROADS: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?" James Madison University, October 9th.

Critical Impairments To Globalizing The Western Human Rights Discourse, Nikitah O. Imani

Black Studies Faculty Publications

This article focuses on the philosophical implications of Euro-centrism and Eurocentric discourse for the Western human rights narrative. It is argued that there is insufficient theoretical and practical consideration of those implications, particular for advocacy and activity in the so-called “Third World” where such arguments frequently become mere vehicles for the advance of economic and political neocolonialism. In many ways, colonialism with a humanistic, liberal democratic “face”. Finally, a proposition is advanced that if the Western human rights discourse is to be effectively corrected and evolve into a global one, critiques of Euro-centrism from outside the Western discursive world must …

Navigating Perceptions Of ‘Otherness’ In The Classroom: One Experience, Nikitah O. Imani

Black Studies Faculty Publications

As a direct result of the pervasive nature of Eurocentrism and Platonic epistemology in the academy today, teaching undergraduates is a special challenge for those who are viewed as representations of cultural others. This presents such teachers with what may be described at best as “unique” classroom experiences. Their “being” is rendered in a manner that places it on trial. This trial, taking place in the mind of the student becomes an additional barrier to the learning process, and oft-times a crutch that allows the interjection of variables of social and cultural stratification when the lack of academic preparation is …