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Author Note
Thanks are given to Dr. Abeba Fekade who through years of conversation has helped the
author develop her thinking and theorizing on many of the issues contained in this manuscript.
Acknowledgement must be given to Dr. Niyana Rasayon who co-presented with the author on
Dade@Lincoln.edu.
REAFFIRMING AFRICAN-CENTERED SCIENTISTS 2
Abstract
Using research findings from spiritual healing to remote viewing and the limitations of the
Newtonian model that characterizes science (Arntz, Chasse & Vicente 2005), new age scientists
are working to shift the current paradigm. However, a closer inspection reveals that they are
working towards a shift that is not only reminiscent of what Africa has already given to the
world but, also, of what contemporary African-centered scientists have been working towards
recreating/creating. New age scientists acknowledge neither ancient Africa nor current day
African-centered scientists. This omission has left the story incomplete and for erroneous
conclusions to be drawn. As in the past and documented by James (1992) in his book Stolen
Legacy, a theft of science is once again occurring. African-centered scientists must move to
familiarize themselves with such efforts so that they might take their rightful place in the
There is a body of new age scientists hailing from various professional fields who are
collectively challenging the current scientific paradigm. Anchoring themselves in the scholarly
works of quantum mechanics and quantum physics and bringing even religious scholars from
attempting to bring about a paradigm shift. All together these scientists are not only speaking to
the findings as are related to research on spiritual healing, remote viewing, ESP, and the like but,
also, to the limitations of the Newtonian model that currently characterizes science (Arntz,
Arntz, et al. (2005) suggested that Descartes is seen as providing what might be
considered the prefect solution to what some have characterized as a power struggle between
the church and early European scientists. Descartes promoted a division with religion
maintaining stewardship in relation to the metaphysical sphere and science the material world;
thus, allowing each its own territory and dogma. Later building upon his predecessors work,
Newton added to the newly burgeoning paradigm mathematical precision and it is this scientific
mathematical model that has reigned over what is scientific versus that which is pseudo-
Contemporary Struggle
In the context of the United States of America, for example, the split and ultimate
partitioning of the church (i.e., the spiritual realm) from the material world has probably reached
its highest level through legislation. The separation of church and state has resulted in the
REAFFIRMING AFRICAN-CENTERED SCIENTISTS 4
church, the spirit, being fundamentally removed from everything and, in turn, the legal system,
who by the way is also beholden to the scientific paradigm, being appointed as the arbitrator
between the material world and religion. And, thus with the arm of the law, the tides have
turned. Religious leaders (i.e., God) and their doctrine have been subdued and scientists and
The internal fight, as it is scientist against scientist, is much more contentious. The
microscope under which it places the scientific mathematical paradigm brings a level of scrutiny
to the paradigm and science, in general, that religious challengers have not be able to achieve.
New age scientists are not only challenging what has been presented as scientific fact but, also,
they are challenging the paradigm upon which these so-called facts are anchored.
Metaphysical Research
New age scientists have also put forth starling research findings that not only challenge
long-standing scientific facts but, also, the underlying paradigm itself. Quantum physicists
suggest that certain fundamental particles can exist as either an energy wave or particulate matter
creating what is called a dual existence (Braden, 2007). Quantum physicists further suggest that
the observers expectation influences the behavior of these particles (Braden). And of course,
as Braden stated, the interest is not in these minute particles but in the fact that everything in the
universe is made of particles and, thus, the implications. This is particularly the case as Braden
is one of the theorists that conceptualized existence as a divine matrix of which humans are
As the current scientific paradigm has failed to explain new age research findings and
is not capable of forwarding such studies, the paradigm has proven to be quite limited and
limiting. In addition, the paradigm has proven to be part and parcel of the problems that are
faced by humans all over the global, the problems as are related to the planet that humans
Despite the critique and unquestionably strong challenges to the scientific paradigm,
scientists are nevertheless resistant to change. And, ironically, it is scientists who are engaging
in unscientific behaviors and surprisingly behaviors that are contrary to the implicit rules that
they have forged and accepted to assist in the forwarding of scientific theory and research.
interesting explanation as to why she believed scientists would tenuously hold onto a paradigm
that retards its own growth and possibly engage in the slaughtering of their fellow scientists
(i.e., new age scientists). Richards suggested that the current paradigm was used to forward
European Imperialism and is still used to help maintain world domination by todays Western
powers. It is this scientific mathematic paradigm that under the guise of science has forwarded
Western European cultural superiority as the only and best way to view reality and ones self
Towards resolving the limitations as well as the problems that the scientific mathematical
paradigm has caused, new age scientists have begun to move in a familiar and most logical
direction. Although not specifically stated, it appears that new age scientists are moving in a
direction to make whole the split and to remove the research methodological restrictions placed
However, if one looks closely, it appears that these new age scientists are calling for what
Africa has already given to the world, a sacred scientific paradigmatic perspective. Many of the
criticisms of these new age scientists are uncannily similar to the challenges that have been
presented by African-centered scientists, particularly psychologists, over the last past several
decades. In addition, this movement is similar to the wellsprings from which African-centered
psychological scholars anchor themselves to build the so-called Afrocentric paradigm. And so,
again just as George James (1954/1992) noted nearly 60 years ago in relation to the thrift of
African intellectual property by Europeans, Western Europeans are in the process of stealing
the intellectual property of African people to help create the current paradigm shift.
Nobles (2006) in his most recent book entitled, Seeking the sakhu: Foundational
writings for an African psychology contains selected pieces of his lifes work underscoring the
place that spirituality has in psychology, in science. These African-centered psychologists have
also been in the vanguard of engaging in both interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary efforts
towards shifting the paradigm and returning the sacred aspect of science. For example, Clark,
McGhee, Nobles, and Weems (aka, Akbar) published the now seminal piece in 1975 entitled,
Voodoo or IQ: An introduction to African psychology. It was in the context of this piece that
they cover major topics across the field of psychology (e.g., intelligence, personality and the self)
but, also, incorporate biology (e.g., melanin and the central nervous system) to look at various
forms of ESP (e.g., psychokinesis and precognition). These authors as well as other African-
centered psychologists have also welcomed the input from scientists in other fields (e.g.,
REAFFIRMING AFRICAN-CENTERED SCIENTISTS 7
anthropologists, historians, etc.) and from those of various clothes (e.g., Islam, Ifa,
However, these factors seem to receive only scant, if any, mention by these so-called new
age scientists. The new age scientists typically start their discourse in the middle of the story that
is in the context of Europe with the fight between scientists and religion leaders. Some do
include a cursory mention and or short review of Egypt alone (and even the use of the more
current name as opposed to Kemet bespeaks the problem) but quickly find their way to European
soil to anchor most of the discussion in that context. They leave the beginning of the story
blackness or the like. African-centered scientists have been written out of the paradigm shift that
not only have they steadily moved to create but, also, even their resurrection and reinterpretation
(This is the last subsection of the paper and as directed in the course syllabus, critique the research that was used for
the paper. Was it African-centered in nature? Was the African worldview mentioned or taken into account? Be
specific in your discussion pointing to statements and authors in your research as well as from the class of in terms
of readings and discussions in relation to people of African descent.)
References
Arntz, W. Chasse, B. & Vicente, M. (2005). What the bleep do we know? Deerfield
Braden, G. (2007). The divine matrix: Bridging time, space, miracles, and belief.
Bulhan, H.A. (1985). Frantz Fanon and the psychology of oppression. New York, NY:
Plenum Press.
Clark, C., McGhee, D.P., Nobles, W. & Weems, L., (1975). Voodoo or IQ: An
James, G. G. M. (1992). Stolen legacy. Trenton, NJ: African World Press, Inc.
(All sources/references on this page and cited in the paper must match.)