Bringing Ma'at to the Forefront: Ancient African Philosophy and 21st-Century Culturally Relevant Pedagogical Practices

• In Event: 35.041 - Social Justice and the Womanist Praxis

Abstract

African descent students often are subjected to pedagogical practices and curricula that do not validate their home cultures or their individual and collective histories. In response, many teachers implement culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) and curricula to address this population’s needs. Focusing on teachers in an African-centered school, this qualitative inquiry examined how the ancient Kemetic philosophy, Ma’at, manifests in their epistemologies, worldviews, and pedagogical practices (EWP). The holistic theoretical framework incorporated Afrocentric, womanist, and CRP theories. The methods included dialogue, storytelling, and participatory witnessing. The findings illuminate how Ma’at undergirds the participants’ EWP, enabling them to facilitate students’ critical thinking, critical consciousness, and identity development. This study’s significance highlights how the epistemologies and worldviews of teachers shape their pedagogical practices.

Author

• Ayanna N. Swain, The SBA Circle, LLC