How Can I Bring Ubuntu As A Living Standard of Judgement Into The Academy? Moving Beyond Decolonisation Through Societal Reidentification And Guiltless Recognition

Abstract of PhD Submission to the University of Bath, 2007
Eden Charles. Graduated 28 June 2007.

This is a living theory thesis which traces my engagement in seeking answers to my question that focuses on how I can improve my practice as someone seeking to make a transformational contribution to the position of people of African origin. In the course of my enquiry I have recognised and embraced Ubuntu, as part of an African cosmology, both as my living practice and as a living standard of judgement for this thesis. It is through my Ubuntu way of being, enquiring and knowing that my original contribution to knowledge has emerged.

Two key approaches are identified and described in depth: 'guiltless recognition' and 'societal re-identification'. These emerge from a perception of self that is distinct within but not isolated in an awareness of 'inclusionality'. They are intimately related concepts. Guiltless recognition allows us to move beyond the guilt and blame that maintains separation and closes down possibility. It provides a basis for action and conception that moves us towards the imagined possibilities of societal reidentification with Ubuntu.

Both 'guiltless recognition' and 'societal reidentification' embody strategic and epistemological practices that move away from severing, colonising thought, towards ways of being that open up new possibilities for people of African origin and for humanity generally.

Visual narratives are used to represent and help to communicate the inclusional meanings of these living standards of judgement. The narratives are focused on my work as a management consultant and include my work with Black managers. They explain my educational influence in creating and sustaining the Sankofa Learning Centre for Black young people in London. They include my living as a Black father seeking to remain present and of value to my son within a dominant discourse/context in which this is a contradiction to the prevalent stereotype.

CONTENTS

You can download the PhD in Sections in PDF format. THE NUMBERS AT THE BOTTOM LEFT GIVE THE PAGE NUMBER IN THE THESIS AND THE NUMBER OF PAGES IN EACH FILE. THE REFERENCES UNDER PHOTOGRAPHS TO VIDEO-CLIPS ON THE CD-ROM HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY THE LIVE URLS TO THE VIDEO-CLIPS ON A STREAMING SERVER SO YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE CLIPS DIRECTLY FROM THE TEXT. 12 July 2007.

Titlepage Contents, Acknowledgements & Abstract pages 1-9

Prelude - What am I seeking to do in this thesis? pages 10-29

Introduction pages 30-37

Section One - Cosmological, Ontological, Epistemological Assumptions and Methodological Perspectives pages 38-73

Section Two - Methodology: How I have inquired - my inquiry methodologies pages 74-88

Section Three - Influence of an African Cosmology with Ubuntu pages 89-113

Section Four - Inquiring into my practice as a Father pages 114-124

Section Five - My Educational Inquiry into the Sankofa Learning Centre pages 125-161

Section Six- Me As A Consultant pages 162-205

Conclusion pages 206-210

References pages 211-220

Appendices Section 1 pages 222-233
Appendices Section 3 pages 234-237
Appendices Section 4 pages 238-286
Appendices Section 5 pages 287-332

THE ORIGINAL COPY OF THE THESIS WITH THE CD OF VIDEO-CLIPS CAN BE ACCESSED FROM THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BATH.