Ryan Bradley                                   3/1/00



As African Americans become equal citizens in America they need to

establish their own aims and ideas as people. African Americans must do

active hands on research on the discipline of black studies.

DuBois recognized that any research on black studies must be done by

black scholars. This research must make a positive, lasting impact of the

change on humanity. The educated Negro must go back to the original

roots of Africans to establish a strong foundation for the development of

African Americans. I t is critical for African American Negro scholars to

be conscious and aware of these experiences to recognize the oppression

which the African American has occurred. These scholars can not

abandon their culture and heritage through integration and assimilation.

For the success of African Americans, intellectuals must recognize and

acknowledge this abandonment of their heritage so that they can move

forward in the future for the better of the collective masses of African

Americans. Black Americans must establish a sense of security of their

own culture and heritage as people in America. I believe black intellectuals

should recognize and express the "black experience" to African American

communities. African Americans need to be aware of the contributions

and experiences, which their people made to America. People of African

descent must recognize their culture and own heritage on an internal leve

l for their advancements as a people. African Americans must also

recognize the external forces in America that has slowed their development

in life as people in America. These external forces deal with the

assimilation and integration of black Americans into white America.

Once African Americans recognize these external and internal forces,

than their minds can be clear. This is than where the foundation of

establishing goals and aims for African American people in America can

begin.