DISCUSSION TOPIC: BLACK ATHENA

Some Questions

• What was the "Black Athena" debate about?

• What is the nature of Martin Bernal's thesis?  Why did he pick his title?  Why does he indict traditional Greek historiography?  How does he distinguish between what he calls the "Ancient" and the "Aryan" models of Greek civilization?

• Is Egypt "African?"  Was Egypt "black?"  Does this matter?

• Why do you think the Black Athena debate generated such emotion, both within and outside the academy?

• What is "race" and what, if anything, does the Black Athena debate contribute to the discussion about the meaning of race?

• Who are the Afrocentrists and where are they placed in this debate?

• Does the Black Athena debate matter?  Why or why not?

• What are your criticisms of Bernal?  What your criticisms of Lefkowitz?

• Mary Lefkowitz accuses the Afrocentrists of substituting "myth" for "history."  What is the difference between myth and history?  Do you think that we can get at the truth in history?  Do you think that there is one truth in history?

Starting Places

• Sharon Begley, "Out Of Egypt, Greece: Seeking the Roots Of Western Civilization On The Banks Of The Nile," Newsweek (September 23, 1991).

• Margaret Jervis, "Black And White Classics?," History Today (November 1991).

•   Mary Lefkowitz, "Not Out Of Africa: Was Greek Culture Stolen From Africa?"

• Walter Cohen, "An Interview With Martin Bernal," Social Text (Summer 1993): 1-24.

Articles

• Stanley M. Burstein, "The Debate Over 'Black Athena,'" Scholia, 5 (1996): 3-16.

• Martin Bernal, "Roots," New Republic (March 9, 1992).

• Mary Lefkowitz, "Roots," New Republic (March 9, 1992).

• Martin Bernal, "Review Of Mary Lefkowitz, Not Out Of Africa," Bryn Mawr Classical Review (April 5, 1996).

• Mary Lefkowitz, "Leftkowitz On Bernal On Leftkowitz," Bryn Mawr Classical Review (April 19, 1996).

• Meres J. Weche, "Beyond Black Athena -- Rewriting History -- It's About Time," Afro Toronto (February 13, 2006).

• Mere J. Weche, "Black Athena -- The Culture Wars Strike Back," Afro Toronto (January 25, 2006).

• Maghan Keita, "The Politics Of Criticism: Not Out Of Africa And 'Black Athena' Revisited," Journal Of World History, 2 (2000).

• Harold Marcus, "POV: Afrocentrism Debate," H-Net Online (July 11, 1996).

Audio And Visual Sources

• "Black Athena (Part 1)," You Tube: Access to a documentary about Black Athena from California Newsreel.

• "Black Athena (Part 2)," You Tube:

• "Black Athena (Part 3)," You Tube:

• "Black Athena (Part 4)," You Tube:

• "Black Athena (Part 5)," You Tube:

• "Black Athena (Part 6)," You Tube:

• "Black Athena (Part 7)," You Tube:

• "Geopolitics Of Archaeology: The Origins Of Western Civilization, Part 1 Of 2," Worldview, Chicago Public Radio (February 6, 2008).

• "Geopolitics Of Archaeology: The Origins Of Western Civilization, Part 2 Of 2," Worldview, Chicago Public Radio (February 7, 2008).

•   "Afrocentrism," Talk Of The Nation (July 9, 1996).

•   "Classical Education," Talk Of The Nation (June 29, 1998).

Web-Sites

• Martin Bernal, Black Athena -- The Afroasiatic Roots Of Classical Civilization:  A Google Books preview.

• Mary R. Lefkowitz and Guy MacLean Rogers, eds.,  Black Athena Revisited:  A Google Books preview.

• Martin Bernal, Black Athena Writes Back -- Martin Bernal Responds to His Critics:  A Google Books preview.

• Jacques Berlinerblau, Heresy In The University -- The Black Athena Controversy And The Responsibilities of American Intellectuals:  A brief overview of this Rutgers University Press book.

Black Athena In The News

• Stephen Howe, "Our Origins, In Black And White," Independent, December 29, 2001.

• Felicity Barringer, "Africa's Claim To Egypt's History Grows More Insistent," New York Times, February 4, 1990.