This study explores how libraries mediated interactions between black readers and texts in twentieth century South Africa. By situating libraries as vital infrastructures of reading, I critically examine how librarians tried to build the habit of reading within black communities. Beginning in the 1930s with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's…

This letter was first read as a seminar paper in the Institute for the Humanities in Africa at the University of Cape Town in which I offer a series of provocations about what our current moment asks of us. It is concerned with the future of literary and cultural studies (in English) at that university and in South Africa in the wake of the…

"Doing Justice to History" challenges everyday racism in society and offers counter-stories to the singular narratives that still prevail among national historians and in school curricula. It will be a key resource for the annual Black History Month in both the UK and the US. But the book's key purpose is to argue for deeper and…

"Rethinking Columbus," the book the author co-edited with Bob Peterson, had been banned in the schools of Tucson, Arizona, as part of that state's suppression of the Mexican American Studies program. The state superintendent of schools, John Huppenthal, had found the acclaimed Tucson program out of compliance with House Bill 2281, which…

This volume contains selected papers submitted to the 15th Annual International Conference of the Bulgarian Comparative Education Society (BCES), held in June 2017 in Borovets, Bulgaria, and papers submitted to the 5th International Partner Conference of the International Research Centre (IRC) "Scientific Cooperation," Rostov-on-Don,…

This paper emerged from a narrative inquiry of three female postgraduate students from three universities in South Africa. The purpose of the study was to inquire into the challenges that black female students face during their period of study. One participant was a teacher at high school, one a university lecturer and the other a curriculum…

This article reflects on the first phase of a research project aimed at the empowerment of Information Technology (IT) teachers in black rural schools in the North-West province of South Africa. In order to empower these IT teachers, the first phase aimed at understanding their unique challenges and needs. Qualitative research methodology was used…

This paper explores the drive to expand the quantity and quality of PhD's in South Africa and the impact this has had on under-represented groups, in particular black graduates. Based on both qualitative and quantitative data, the paper argues that while there has been a significant increase in the number of black students in doctoral education,…

Professional development of generic black academic staff in South African higher education is viewed against the background of increased emphasis on open dialogue and concern for upward mobility in academe. Open dialogue and liberation create new expectations and challenges for staff. This article describes professional development of academics…

This curriculum unit is designed for secondary students in twentieth-century history and peace studies. The unit contains three activities from which students gain a better understanding of the dimensions of apartheid in South Africa. The activities are entitled: (1) "Racial Separation," an activity that gives students the opportunity to…

This paper critiques the social studies curriculum in use in Black South African schools, due to its lack of emphasis on African cultural heritage. A revised social studies curriculum is offered, focusing on transforming attitudes and values, resolving conflicts, ensuring group coherence, and bridging gaps between schools and communities.…

This project attempts to identify the major problems underlying education reform in South Africa and compares them with similar challenges facing the District of Columbia public education system. Narration for the slide program is based on interviews, formal and informal meetings, lectures, and briefings. Slides of various schools and communities…

This curriculum unit is intended to help students understand the tremendous social and political changes in South Africa that have occurred with the ending of apartheid. The unit contains four modules: (1) "Segregation/Apartheid"; (2) "Effects of Apartheid"; (3) "Transitional Process from Apartheid to Democracy"; and…

Communities that have been exposed to high levels of stress and where religiosity is salient are ideal contexts in which to examine the role of religion in stress processes. The present study examines the protective function of religiosity among Black women in a South African township. The women (N = 172) were interviewed about sources of stress,…