The Shrine of the Black Madonna and the afrocentric personality

206 Pages·2015·7.94 MB·English

by  Leon W. Davis

Atlanta University Center
ABSTRACT
DOCTOR OF ARTS IN HUMANITIES
DAVIS, LEON W. B.A. SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, 1972
M. A. NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY, 2002
THE SHRINE OF THE BLACK MADONNA AND THE
AFROCENTRIC PERSONALITY
Committee Chair: Dr. Josephine B. Bradley
Dissertation dated July 2013
The purpose of this study was to investigate the fact that the Shrine of the Black
Madonna creates an Afrocentric personality in its members. The essential questions of
this study are the following: (1) How does the Shrine of the Black Madonna create
Afrocentric personalities in its members? (2) How will members of the Shrine, using
communal economics, self knowledge, and an African orientation, reflect the collective
identity of the African saying, "I am because we are, because we are, therefore I Am."
This study is significant because the study is based on the premise that
Afrocentric organizations will produce Afrocentric personalities that are capable of
eradicating most of the problems facing African people in America. The liberation of
African people is recorded as the most sacred objective of the Shrine. The Shrine is
concerned with building a Black Nation. The study investigates the practical aspect of
Afrocentric institutions which makes this exploration significant.
A mixed method methodology was used to analyze gathered data from the
participant observer method, quantitative study, and qualitative study methods. This
study is based on the premises that the Shrine of the Black Madonna produces
Afrocentric personalities through the KUA (small) group method and the practice of the
Nguzo Saba method.
There are programs and institutions the Shrine uses to create Africans that believe
they are building a nation. As a participant in the activities of the Shrine, the researcher
observed that the Shrine is an Afrocentric institution. The following institutions were
observed (1) History Class, (2) Museum, (3) Worship Service, and (4) Beulah Land
Farm.
The qualitative findings of the study found that the Shrine of Black Madonna has
Afrocentric members using elite interviews. The quantitative study used the African self-
consciousness scale test in the measurement of the Shrine members; the researcher found
that they have Afrocentric personalities.
The Shrine of the Black Madonna definitely produces members with an
Afrocentric personality. The transformation of members occurs during the KUA group
sessions. The use of Afrocentric symbols and activities reinforces the members' new
worldview. The researcher recommends that other scholars study other organizations that
create an African centered program such as the Nation of Islam, US Organization, and the
Hebrew Israelite group.
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THE SHRINE OF THE BLACK MADONNA AND THE
AFROCENTRIC PERSONALITY
A DISSERTATION
SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF ARTS IN HUMANITIES
BY
LEON W. DAVIS
AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES/AFRICANA WOMEN'S STUDIES, AND
HISTORY
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
JULY 2013
©2013
LEON W. DAVIS
All Rights Reserved
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My sincere gratitude goes to all of the people who gave me the materials and
direction needed for the creation of this dissertation. The faculty, who gave me the
encouragement and direction I needed, the people of the Shrine of the Black Madonna,
and the help of people in Woodruff Library were essential in my endeavor. Dr. Josephine
Bradley was instrumental in my final choice of a research topic. I would like to thank
Deborah Jones Arnold and Ms. Jacqui Jackson for their assistance. I also thank Dr.
Joseph A. Baldwin for his great contribution of the Afrocentric Personality Test and his
interest in this project. I would also like to thank Dr. Thomas Scott and Dr. K. B. S.
Barrow for helpful comments and advice.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ii
LIST OF FIGURES vi
UST OF TABLES vii
ABBREVIATIONS viii
CHAPTER
I. INTRODUCTION 1
Rationale of the Study 3
Statement of the Problem 5
Research Questions 7
Limitations 7
Theoretical Framework 7
Theory Specific to the Study 14
Mixed Methods 21
Sequential Exploratory Strategy 22
Observation/Participant Methodology 23
Quantitative Methods 24
Qualitative Methods..... 26
Significance of the Study 27
Summary 29
Organization of the Dissertation 31
Definition of Terms 31
H. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE 33
Historical Overview of the Research Literature 33
Discussion of Literature Specific to the Dissertation Topic 36
Research in Cognate Areas Relevant to Topic Under Investigation 38
Critical Analysis of Appropriate Research Literature 41
Summary 43
Contributions of the Study to the Literature 44
CHAPTER PAGE
HI. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 63
in
Reverend Albert B. Cleage, Jr. (Jaramogi Abebegyeman) and His
Philosophy of Liberation 71
The African Origin of Christianity Historically 71
The Shrine of the Black Madonna 72
Reverend Cleage on Commitment 72
Revolutionary Love 73
The Reality of the Cosmos 73
Reverend Cleage on Survival 74
The History of the Shrine of the Black Madonna 74
Member of the Pan-African Orthodox Christian Church 74
IV. FINDINGS 79
Observation/Participant 79
Cultural Center, Shrine of the Black Madonna, Atlanta, GA 79
Beulah Land Farms, South Carolina 80
History Class: June 2009- January 31, 2010 81
Worship Service and Community Action—August 2009 -
January 2010: Order of Service 82
Community Action 83
Qualitative Findings 85
Research Questions 85
African Culture 85
Black Liberation Theology 93
Black Nationalism 102
Communalism 105
Transformation 109
Interview Questions 114
Quantitative Findings 115
African Self-Consciousness Scale (ASCS) Instructions 117
The African Self-Consciousness Scale Scoring Key 117
The African Self-Consciousness Scale: Four Factors 118
The African Self-Consciousness Scale Questions Analysis 124
Discussion 127
Beulah Land Farm 128
History Class 128
The Worship Service 129
Communion 130
Qualitative Study 130
Quantitative Study 134
The African Self-Consciousness Scale Survey 135
V. CONCLUSION 139
APPENDDC: Raw Scores - ASCS Test and Field Notes 145
iv
BffiLIOGRAPHY 190
LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE PAGE
1. Sequential Exploratory Design 22
2. Beulah Land Farm 80
VI