Opting Out of the Mainstream: Maroonage and the Quest for Independent Black Education

Opting Out of the Mainstream: Maroonage and the Quest for Independent Black Education

Panel Discussion:

• Moderator: Kweli Zukeri, PhD
• Anthony Browder aka Nana Segu Karakh: Scholar, historian and activist for African-centered history and culture, entrepreneur, author
• Dr. Carol Lee, PhD aka Mama Safisha: Founder/Director of African-Centered schools, educational researcher and scholar, author  
• Kamau Grimes: African studies scholar, teacher at Arican-Centered school 
• Monica Utsey: Founder and Director of African-centered Sankofa home school collective 

The quest for independent formal education for Africans and African descendants born on what is now North American soil when enslaved Africans set foot here over 400 years ago. The independent nature of that quest began as a necessity in the face of slavery, and later further oppression that many would argue has never waned, regardless of the status of our freedom of at a given time up to the present day. We have always considered education to ultimately be a means of liberation physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Subsequently, we have always practiced "marroonage" by opting out of mainstream schooling and establishing alternative and independent systems of education and socialization, whether that be within the home and community, in existing local schools and institutions, or establishing new organizations and schools for this purpose.

This panel will feature 4 people dedicated to the cause of empowering Black youth via "maroonage," or African-Centered education and socialization within independent alternative spaces. They are educators, researchers, scholars, authors, as well as community pillars and institution builders. Most importantly, they are all what we call Jegnas: Warriors in defense of African culture and people. The discussion will explore the history and purpose of marroonage, lessons from the front lines, as well as implications for the present and future.