Transitions in consciousness from an African American perspective : original essays in psycho-historical context / Carroy U. Ferguson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ferguson, Carroy U.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

African Americans--Psychology.

African Americans.

Race relations.

Psychological aspects.

United States--Race relations--Psychological aspects.

United States.

Physical Description:

xxii, 332 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Md. : University Press of America, [2004]

Summary:

In this book, Carroy Ferguson presents a unique glimpse into the transitional stages in consciousness that many African Americans experience as they explore the essence of being a Black person in U.S. society and the world. Using a model of six transitional stages in consciousness, original essays, and discourses on the symbolism of various historical events, Ferguson engages readers in an intriguing reflective process to give them a better understanding of how transitions in consciousness-- from an African American perspective-- are largely shaped and greatly influenced by the psychology of the times.

Contents:

Chapter 1 A Psycho-Historical Period of Preliminary Musing: Harnessing Random Thoughts 1

Psycho-Historical Context (1954-1967) 3

A Mediating Developmental Approach to Thought and Language: Verbal Thought, Word Meaning, and Concept Formation (Essay Written-1967) 7

General Orientation and Approach 8

Meaning as a Psychological Problem 10

Development of Thought in the Child: Concept Formation 12

Genetic Roots of Thought and Speech 16

Extended Considerations of Language 18

Role of Language in Cognitive Development (Learning) 19

The Transition Period 21

Chapter 2 A Psycho-Historical Period of Creative Anger 27

Psycho-Historical Context (1967-1973) 29

Toward a Psychology of Black Mental Health (Essay Written-1970) 35

Redefinition of Mental Health-What Is A Relevant Psychology? 35

The Black Family System 41

The Black Belief or Attitudinal System 45

The Black Behavior System 58

The Black Value System 64

Chapter 3 A Psycho-Historical Period of Research and Study 69

Psycho-Historical Context (1974-1989) 71

"Culture of Poverty": A Reality or a Misconception (Essay Written-1974) 83

Cultural Awareness and Crosscultural Communication: Models and Principles (Essay Written-1989) 93

Chapter 4 A Psycho-Historical Period of Expanded Thought 103

Psycho-Historical Context (1990-1993) 105

The Mirror Effect and Anti-Black Disposition as a Function of Fear and an Outer vs. Inner Orientation: Transcending a Crossracial and Cultural Barrier in Expanding Consciousness (Essay Written-1993) 111

Anti-black Disposition, Stylistic Orientation and Perceptions About the Nature of the Unconscious 113

Research on Anti-black Dispositions, the Nature of the Unconscious, and Stylistic Orientations: A Summary 118

Implications of the Research for Transcending a Crossracial and Cultural Barrier 124

Embracing the Mirror Effect as a Tool for Transcending and Expanding Consciousness 124

Transcending the Symbolic Link 125

Re-Thinking Self-Identity and Blocks to Self-Development 126

Environmental and Psychic Stress of Crossracial and Multicultural Projections 127

Self-Limiting Cultural Beliefs and Blocks to Self-Creation and Empowerment 128

Distorted States of Consciousness 128

Intervention Strategies for Healing the Self 129

Chapter 5 A Psycho-Historical Period of Further Expanded Thought 137

Psycho-Historical Context (1990-1995) 139

Expanding Our Consciousness Through the Use of the Mirror Effect: The Inner State of the Human Race and Race Relations (Essay Written-1995) 145

The Mirror Effect and Its Role in Expanding Consciousness 146

Reflections of the Mirror Effect About the Inner State of the Race and Race Relations 148

Embracing the Mirror Effect as a Tool for Transformation and Expansion 153

The Mirror Effect and Tools for Self-Creation and Reality Creation 154

Mirror Effect Lessons About Consciousness and the Role of Racial Groups 161

Chapter 6 A Psycho-Historical Period of New Musing 171

Psycho-Historical Context (1990-1996) 173

Meaning of Race and the Concept of Self: A Transpersonal Perspective (Essay Written-1996) 181

Epilogue-A Psycho-Historical Update: "Reminder Events," Challenges, and Next Steps 195

Psycho-Historical Context (1996-The Dawn Of A New Millennium) 197

Some Recent Events Since 1996 Which Serve As "Reminders" About Unfinished Race-Related Work 197

Some Ongoing Challenges For Race Relations 206

Next Steps In Regard To Race Relations 209

Section I A Timeline of African American Life 219

Five Historical Time Frames For African American Life: Themes And Examples Of Historical Events 219

1517-1863 219

Theme 1 The Beginning Of Slavery In The New World 219

Theme 2 Slave Insurrections 219

Theme 3 Legitimization Of The Idea Of Having "Slave And Free States" 220

Theme 4 The Abolitionist Movement 221

Theme 5 The First Black Nationalist Movement 222

Theme 6 The Onset Of A Civil War And The Emancipation Of Slaves 222

1863-1896 223

Theme 1 Resistance To The End Of The Civil War And The Force Of The Reconstruction Era 223

Theme 2 The Emergence Of "Black Code" Laws And Violent White Resistance To Social Change 224

Theme 3 The Emergence Of National Black Institutions 225

Theme 4 Early Popularized African American Cultural Influences 226

1896-1929 228

Theme 1 Creative Tension Of Two Ideologies For Black Progress-Vocational Education vs. College-Trained Leadership 228

Theme 2 The Harlem Renaissance And More Popularized African American Cultural Influences 229

Theme 3 The Enactment Of Overt, Violent Black-White Group Confrontations 233

Theme 4 The Emergence Of Visible Black-White Collaboration And African American Self-Help Organizations 234

Theme 5 The Second Black Nationalist Movement 236

1929-1954 236

Theme 1 The Condoning Of A Segregated American Lifestyle And The Treatment Of African Americans As "Objects" By The U. S. Government 236

Theme 2 Challenges To Discrimination And Segregation Laws Through Direct Action, Legal Strategies, And Political Inroads 237

Theme 3 The Third Black Nationalist Movement 241

Theme 4 Challenges To U. S. Segregated Cultural Life Through Music, Art, Publications, Sports, And Civic Symbols 241

1954-The Present 246

Theme 1 The Struggles Of The Civil Rights Movement, Sit-In Movement, And Freedom Rides To Promote The Ideas Of Freedom, Desegregation, And Full Equality For African Americans 246

Theme 2 The Federal Government's More Active Role To Contain/Prevent White Reactive Violence And To Establish New Laws For Handling Civil Rights, Discrimination, And Affirmative Action 252

Theme 3 Periodic Racial Explosions, Backlashes To Erode Affirmative Action, And Different Perceptions Regarding U. S. Justice And The State Of Race Relations 254

Theme 4 A Push For Respect, Self-Defense, Self-Definition, And Re-Connections To African Roots 261

Theme 5 Breakthroughs In Politics And Political Appointments 268

Theme 6 The Fourth Black Nationalist Movement 279.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0761827005

OCLC:

55879563