Toussaint L’Ouver-Who? An Anthropological Approach to Infusing the African Diaspora into Caribbean History

Abstract

World history curriculum continues to be plagued by Eurocentric narratives and perspectives eliminating local and community agency in Caribbean history. Textbooks and curriculum standards exclude much of Caribbean history and marginalize the influence and contributions of the African Diaspora. Oftentimes, Caribbean achievements are attributed to European influence and not the local community as seen with the Haitian Revolution and diffusion of the European Enlightenment. African culture and syncretic Haitian religion however, heavily contributed to the inspiration of revolution by African slaves in Haiti. This article explores ways educators can infuse the African Diaspora into Caribbean history through anthropology. Using an ethnographic lens to examine the Haitian Revolution, Haitian Voudou, and Toussaint L’Ouverture presents a new way educators can teach about this pivotal event and society in World History.     

‘Politics is social work with power’: training social workers for elected office

Training social workers for leadership roles in electoral campaigns and political offices increases the profession’s effectiveness in promoting public policy that reflects our professional values and commitment to social justice. This research describes and evaluates an educational experience in the US that prepares social work practitioners and students to run for elected office; to work in leadership positions at the local, state, and federal levels; and serve as effective advocates for social change. Participants’ plans for future political engagement before and after the training were compared. Following the training, participants are more likely to plan to be politically active in general. Their intentions to work on campaigns, run for office, and engage with elected officials increased. These results can inform education in other social work settings.