Runoko Rashidi
Encyclopedia
Runoko Rashidi is a writer
and public lecturer based in Los Angeles
. His academic focus is on "the Black foundations of world civilizations". Many of his claims are incorrect, however, as evidenced by various anthropological and DNA studies. He has coordinated educational group tours to India, Aboriginal Australia, the Fiji Islands and Southeast Asia, as well as to Egypt and Brazil.
Since the later 20th and early 21st centuries, academic theorists have generally rejected such definitions of race and define it as a social construct along a continuum, rather than strict biological reality.
analysis of genetic populations. This has shown that, while the above groups are descendants of peoples who migrated out of Africa (as are all humans when traced back far enough), the populations migrated to more distant territories and changed ages ago. They reached their furthest destinations longer ago than did those humanoids who migrated and developed as the "races" or peoples of Europe and Asia. Because of this, the consensus of academic scientists and researchers is that the above groups do not qualify as one racial group to be called Negroid. In addition, DNA analysis has shown that the Negritos and Australoids are more closely related to neighboring populations in East Asia
than to descendants of ancient populations still in Africa. The Negritos, for example, lived closely associated with neighboring peoples for millennia in relative isolation from other populations, and intermarried with their neighbors, as shown by DNA analysis.
n history at Compton Community College
, Compton, California
. From 1985 to 1987 he worked for the National Black Computer Network as history editor. Rashidi has contributed regularly to the Journal of African Civilizations, edited by its founder Ivan Van Sertima
from 1979 until his death. In 1987 Rashidi inaugurated the First All-India Dalit
Writers Conference in Hyderabad, where he delivered an address on The Global Unity of African People.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and public lecturer based in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. His academic focus is on "the Black foundations of world civilizations". Many of his claims are incorrect, however, as evidenced by various anthropological and DNA studies. He has coordinated educational group tours to India, Aboriginal Australia, the Fiji Islands and Southeast Asia, as well as to Egypt and Brazil.
Countering Eurocentrism
Rashidi rejects the claims by European anthropologists that the Negritos, Australoids, Negroids and Arabian Mediterraneans are separate ethnic groups. He claims that they are all "Africoid" or "Black". He believes European anthropologists have used "unscientific" and "invalid" methods and that their work was "racially motivated" to divide peoples whom he thinks are Africoid in race. He cites Cheikh Diop's statement on race:Since the later 20th and early 21st centuries, academic theorists have generally rejected such definitions of race and define it as a social construct along a continuum, rather than strict biological reality.
Criticism
Theories such as Rashidi's have been refuted by evidence of both mainline anthropologists and linguists, and, in many cases, overturned by DNADNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
analysis of genetic populations. This has shown that, while the above groups are descendants of peoples who migrated out of Africa (as are all humans when traced back far enough), the populations migrated to more distant territories and changed ages ago. They reached their furthest destinations longer ago than did those humanoids who migrated and developed as the "races" or peoples of Europe and Asia. Because of this, the consensus of academic scientists and researchers is that the above groups do not qualify as one racial group to be called Negroid. In addition, DNA analysis has shown that the Negritos and Australoids are more closely related to neighboring populations in East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
than to descendants of ancient populations still in Africa. The Negritos, for example, lived closely associated with neighboring peoples for millennia in relative isolation from other populations, and intermarried with their neighbors, as shown by DNA analysis.
Activities
From 1981 to 1984, Rashidi taught AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n history at Compton Community College
Compton Community College
El Camino College Compton Center operates as a "center" of El Camino College. Under an agreement with El Camino College, Compton Center is open and offers accredited El Camino College courses to residents of Compton, Carson, Lynwood, Paramount and parts of North Long Beach...
, Compton, California
Compton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
. From 1985 to 1987 he worked for the National Black Computer Network as history editor. Rashidi has contributed regularly to the Journal of African Civilizations, edited by its founder Ivan Van Sertima
Ivan van Sertima
Ivan Gladstone Van Sertima was an associate professor of Africana Studies at Rutgers University in the United States....
from 1979 until his death. In 1987 Rashidi inaugurated the First All-India Dalit
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
Writers Conference in Hyderabad, where he delivered an address on The Global Unity of African People.
External links
- Articles by Rashidi, The Global African Presence Website (personal website)
Further reading
- van Sertima, IvanIvan van SertimaIvan Gladstone Van Sertima was an associate professor of Africana Studies at Rutgers University in the United States....
(1989). Egypt Revisited. Transaction PublishersTransaction PublishersTransaction Publishers is a New Jersey-based publishing house that specializes in social sciences books. Some of its books have been published with the imprint "Transactions Publishers".-Overview:...
. ISBN 0-88738-799-3