The Transformative Power of Sankofa: Teaching African History Inside San Quentin State Prison
Vik Bahl
Hey folks—Please find attached Nathaniel Moore’s article about teaching African history in San Quentin prison, from the latest volume of the journal New Directions for Community Colleges, focused on higher education in prisons: (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cc.2015.2015.issue-170/issuetoc?campaign=woletoc), edited by Rob Scott of the Cornell Prison Education Program (robs...@cornell.edu).
This chapter describes the author’s experience teaching ethnic studies inside a unique California prison, and calls for college-in-prison educators to engage culturally appropriate curricula to realize the full transformative potential of the prison classroom.
Vik Bahl
kwame zulu shabazz
Thanks for sharing this important essay on teaching African History in US prisons. It was very insightful and inspirational. I have a similar project in mind. I especially liked the instructor's use of Rodney to show that slavery and colonialism also had specific and negative consequence for "those left behind." I was also intrigued by the connections the students made between colonialism in Africa and colonialism in Asia and the South Pacific. Sankofa is actually a three word contraction which literally reads "return, go, take." It's an abbreviated form of the proverb "Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi" - it is not not wrong to go back and get what you have forgotten.
kzs
Vik Bahl
I’m glad you found the article useful, Brother Kwame! Do tell me which prison you are thinking of teaching in. Are you already part of a prison ed program? Programs that provide college education and degrees in prisons have to overcome considerable barriers because of the end of Pell grants for prisoners in the 1990s and other restrictive laws about using public funds for higher ed in prisons. We’re beginning to seem some progressive movement on this issue in some states.
There is a remarkable network called Higher Education in Prisons, which has a listserv, where you will find people who are able to support your efforts. You can subscribe to the list by sending a message to: prison-ed...@googlegroups.com.
Do let me know how I can be of any help,
Vik
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kwame zulu shabazz
I'm still working out details. I'm pretty certain I would teach at least a semester of Africana Studies at a prison, but I might try to do interviews. I will keep you posted as the project develops and thanks also for the Higher E. in Prisons listserv.
kzs