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Forging Mutuality: The ASA and Africa in the Coming Decades

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 May 2014

Gwendolyn Mikell
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Abstract:

On its fortieth anniversary, the African Studies Association faces the task of forging mutuality between itself and others in the study of Africa and in relationships with Africa. This task involves three distinct challenges. The first is to overcome the historical hierarchies based on race and nationality that attended the creation and early history of the ASA. These hierarchies pushed many Africanists of color to the margins of our organization. The second challenge is to address the need for mutuality in internal policy relationships regarding Africa, particularly at a time when many American international affairs experts have said diat there are no U.S. national interests that link us to Africa and that any such assertions are divisive. However, the third and perhaps most time-sensitive challenge is that of creating mutuality in intra-ASA relationships. We must grow comfortable with the increasing diversity of ASA members. We cannot cede African studies to either black or white Africanists, but we must insist that our association, our newly trained professionals, and our ASA leadership mirror the cultural and ethnic diversity that is America.

Résumé:

Résumé:

En son quarantième anniversaire, l'Association des Etudes Africaines a pour tache de forger la mutualité entre elle et les autres organisations dans le domaine de l'étude de l'Afrique et par rapport à l'Afrique. Cette tache pose trois défis. Le premier à relever est celui de dépasser les anciennes hiérarchies fondées sur la race et la nationalité et qui ont caractérisé la création et les premières années de notre organisation. Ces hiérarchies avaient marginalisé plusieurs africanistes de couleur au sien de l'ASA. Le second défi est de faire face au besoin de mutualité dans les politiques intérieures à l'égard de l'Afrique, surtout à un moment où plusieurs experts américains en affaires internationales ont affirmé qu'il n'y a pas d'intérêt national américain nous liant à l'Afrique et qu'une telle déclaration menait à la discorde. Cependant, le troisième défi, et peut-être le plus urgent, est celui de créer la mutualité au sien même de l'organisation. Nous devons nous sentir à l'aise dans la diversité croissante des membres de l'ASA. On ne saurait céder les études africaines ni à des africanistes noirs ni à des africanistes blancs, mais on doit insister pour que notre association, nos nouveaux cadres, et notre direction reflètent la diversité ethnique et culturelle caractéristique de l'Amérique.

Type
Articles
Information
African Studies Review , Volume 42 , Issue 1 , April 1999 , pp. 1 - 21
Copyright
Copyright © African Studies Association 1999

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