Toward Organizational Dialogue in Black Studies

Abstract

This article is a critical rejoinder to Manning Marable's "Beyond Brown: The Revolution in Black Studies," featured in the Summer 2005 issue of The Black Scholar. Written in the form of a letter, the article addresses the role of professional organizations within the field of Black Studies and the failed commitment on behalf of "public intellectuals" to build and maintain these disciplinary institutions. Through an interrogation of scholarly writings, current events, conventional media coverage, and various organizational documents, the article lobbies for a recommitment to broad-based dialogue and professional Black Studies associations. Furthermore, it critically engages and outlines developing trends in the field of Black Studies, like institutional under/development, "theoretical balkanization," and the emergence of paradigmatic schools of thought.