African Centered Rites of Passage: 101

 

The Basics:

What is the rites of passage porcess?

What does African-centered mean?

What are Akan Spiritual Day Names?

2003 - Lathardus Goggins II guest lecturing to a Kent State University
Psychology class on the rites of passage process (51 mins).

2000 - Sit Down with Norma Downs - An interview with Lathardus Goggins II discussing the African Centered Rites of Passage process (13 mins).

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1998 - Canton Urban League's Insight Radio Program - An Interview with
Lathardus Goggins II discussing the basics of an African Centered
Rites of Passage process (15 mins).

Learn to:

  1. Produce/provide food ... Garden, Fish, Hunt, (and prepare a meal)
  2. "Work the hands" ... Martial Arts (hand to hand and weapons) & Trade Skills (be able to build/fix "something")
  3. Effectively manipulate the political system in which you find yourself (i.e. that operates in your community).
  4. Survive "the encounter"
  5. Strategize to express the authentic self through one's unique genius.

 

Interviews with/Lectures from Elders & Scholars:

Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh

Ladakh, or 'Little Tibet', is a wildly beautiful desert land high in the Western Himalayas. It is a place of few resources and an extreme climate. Yet for more than a thousand years, it has been home to a thriving culture. Traditions of frugality and cooperation, with an intimitate and location-specific knowledge of the environment, enabled the Ladakhis not only to survive but to prosper. Then came 'development'. Now in Leh, the capital, one finds pollution and divisiveness, inflation and unemployment, intolerance and greed. Centuries of ecological balance and social harmony are under threat of modernization. Ancient Futures is much more than a film about Ladakh. The breakdown of Ladakh's culture and environment forces us to re-examine what we really mean by 'progress' - not only in the 'developing' parts of the world, but in the industrialized world as well. The story of Ladakh teaches us about the root causes of environmental, social and psychological problems, and provides valuable guidelines for our own future.

Therman Evans, MD, PhD, a physician, ordained minister, entrepreneur and chief of a village in Ghana, West Africa, is uniquely qualified to help people use their spirit, mind and body. Known as "Mr. Inspiration", Dr. Evans is the founder and CEO of WholeLife Associates, Inc. Philadelphia, PA and the Pastor of Morning Star Community Tabernacle, Linden, New Jersey.

This is a presentation given to the Ohio Commission on African American Males in 1992. Dr. Evans is discussing the "Rhythm of the Universe"

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Ronald Johnson. At a conference on fathers, families and communities, Mr. Johnson spoke about his work with teenage fathers in Los Angeles since 1985. He emphasized that young men need to learn how to serve society as men before they become fathers. He also noted that what they learn from society about manhood needs to be unlearned and replaced with more positive views of what it means to be a man in relation to the community, women and children.

CACRoP CACRoP YoutubeChannel  
   

How rites of passage can transform:

Goggins II, L. (2004, Feb.). The Academic STARS Retention Model: An Empirical Investigation.

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Goggins II, L. (2012). Excerpt from Bringing the Light Into a New Day: African-centered Rites of Passage Chapter 3 - The Transformative Power of African-centered Rites of Passage.

Additional Resources:

BAOBAB Virtual Reference Desk

CACRoP Resource Books

CACRoP on facebook

Workshop & Services by Dr. Lathardus Goggins II