The African Genesis Theory of Dr. Edward Robinson, Jr, historian and author, is a set of principles on which the practice of infusing African history within the context of learning will make for a better America. His system of ideas for education of American youth and particularly African American youth at risk, troubled by low self-esteem, and anti-social behavior because of the constant portrayal of them as negative stereotypes seen in films, on TV, in literature and in the general media, can reverse this behavior and the programmed associated negative perceptions.
These stereotypes, coupled with a lack of information about the grandeur of their African origin, give African American young people a number of erroneous perceptions about themselves which carries through and impacts as unacceptable behavior. African Genesis Theory, the infusing of African history within the context of learning, reverses these belief systems, and removes the “mental crutch” that the students often lean on to explain away poor grades and behavior. According to Dr. Robinson, “How can an African American student say that they cannot learn mathematics once they’re told that their civilization developed mathematics... or that they cannot learn to read when Africans invented written, complex languages? It removes all excuses.”
Dr. Robinson’s mission was to sell Americans to one another -- to get all ethnic groups to realize the worth, contributions, and value of each other. "We have learned that selling people on the greatness of their “old country” ancestry of any group raises respect and honor within the group (and external to the group) and creates an intrinsic value of the descendants of that ethnic group. When people value themselves, they value others, and a multiplier effect of shifted attitudes and thought paradigms can occur. " His goal has been to begin this process with the population within the American fabric that has experienced the greatest separation from their history, culture and society, and where some of the most compelling negative statistics of poverty, illiteracy, crime, unemployment, sexually transmitted diseases, degenerative health problem, teen pregnancy, and eroding family structures/values, reside.
