Negro Digest - Freedom Archives

and compartmentalization .
We cannot deny that to some extent
black people too have internalized
aspects of the dual American
ideology . This is the crux of the
issue dealt with here . The situation
is more complex than that involving
whites in that neither portion of
the American ideology has been
adequate for black Americans.
There have always been the rudiments
of a functional black ideology
in our communities . However,
it has had to contend with
tremendous odds for its mere survival,
let alone growth ; we control
few instruments of communication
and education . The result has been
three distinct and often inconsistent
constellations of ideas, attitudes,
and beliefs permeating black society
. Small wonder that so
many black individuals experience
"hang-ups" and, more important,
there is little to maintain our programs
for change .
Many, including Harold Cruse
(Crisis of the Negro Intellectual
and Rebellion or Revolution) and
90
other cultural nationalists, have
recognized the ideological need of
which I speak . Their proposal that
cultural nationalism is necessary to
fill the void does not seem adequate
. The American political,
economic, and cultural apparatus
seems far too complex for cultural
nationalism to be sufficient . The
final resolution may, however, involve
some aspects of cultural nationalism
.
It is incumbent upon those seriously
committed to black studies
to seek out the ideological positions
that would be most beneficial to
black people. Black thinkers, especially
black psychologists, must aid
in the development and transmission
of the new black ideology .
This is the challenge of black
studies at this juncture . Unless it
is met, we have simply added another
"agency" to the pile and the
next explosion will be just a bit
stronger . Perhaps then we will deal
with the gut issues of a black ideology
and, ultimately, a truly
"American" ideology .
J . Frank Yates, author of the assessment, "Black Studies at This Juncture,"
is acting director of the Afro-American Studies Program at the
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor .
March 1970 NEGRO DIGEST