About

 

The Institute for African American Thought and Philosophy (IAATP), was founded in 2011 as Legba Publishers by O.S. Ekunkonye. Legba Publishers became The Institute for African American Thought and Philosophy (IAATP) in 2012 with the mission of—Contributing to the building of a better world through the medium of independent thought and philosophy.

Let’s take a moment to clarify what we do here at IAATP as opposed to what professional or academic philosophers do. These men and women are charged with the education of the nation’s youth as faculty members of colleges and universities. They must prove their skills in the tenants and dogma of Western philosophy to hold their positions. We also respect the contributions of Black academic philosophers to what is termed Africana or Black Existential philosophy.

However, what we do here at IAATP is philosophy in its most ancient and natural sense, as philosophical systems traditionally arise from individual philosophers within specific ethnic groups as is found in Greek, Indian and Chinese philosophy for example. In this light, IAATP currently offers the work of O.S. Ekunkonye an independent, African American philosopher. As a philosopher, Mr. Ekunkonye focused on the development of an authentic, African American philosophical system that would be helpful to all men regardless of ethnic background.

 

IAATP—Philosophical Resources

 

IAATP’s current philosophical offering is—The Great Correction: Rethinking our View of the World and Mankind (2015) also known as TGC; it comes in two volumes and introduces Correctionism—an authentic African American philosophical system which teaches a better way of viewing the world and mankind. Regardless of one’s ethnic background, TGC will be helpful to anyone today seeking to acquire a higher-level understanding of man and his world. Furthermore, Correctionism, teaches The Great Correction—placing the Truth back in its rightful position over and above all human systems of belief, regardless of the source.

In Correctionism we learn that this adjustment is vital today because for thousands of years and counting, mythology has literally taken precedence over reality for the vast majority of mankind. Among the many concepts taught in Correctionism we find Massive Human Error (MHE), which is defined as—The cumulative effect of great mistakes and crimes committed by large numbers of people over long periods of time. Never, has mankind been as wrong or as misguided as it is today. Therefore, it’s of the utmost importance in Correctionism for man to not only realize when he’s wrong but to also correct himself before it’s too late. Many people today sense that something is seriously wrong but real answers aren’t easy to come by. Nevertheless, real answers can still be found in this second edition of The Great Correction (TGC).

 

IAATP—Post-Negro Studies—a New Paradigm for Black Americans

 

In addition to our philosophical offering (TGC), IAATP also offers works that assist in overcoming a widespread lack of understanding of the Black Experience in America, among Black Americans themselves. For many Black Americans, the experience of their people here in the U.S. has been a great mystery that’s not very well understood by neither Blacks nor Whites. Moreover, due to its inherent complexity and difficulty, the Black American Experience is far more than a story of slavery and racism, it is the epitome of the story of humanity over the last several thousand years and counting because all mankind has suffered some form of slavery, brainwashing and manipulation during this period. For the foregoing reasons, the Black Experience in the U.S. can only be truly understood via new ways of seeing ourselves as individuals and as a people. To this end, IAATP created Post-Negro Studies, a new field of study focusing on Ajise (Ah-jee-sheh) or the Culture of Redemption and Renewal (CORAR)—a more effective Black American culture for the 21st century and beyond. The following works represent IAATP’s current Post-Negro Studies line up:

 

The Alchemy of Black Liberation

 

The Alchemy of Black Liberation and the Post-Negro Worldview, also known as TABL (Table), introduces the concept of Ajise (Ah-jee-sheh) or Post-Negroism which offers an entirely different way of viewing the Black Experience in America. Ajise is a Yoruba word that means, “One who awakens and achieves.” It is also another name for the Culture of Redemption and Renewal (CORAR), a more effective Black American culture for the 21st century and beyond and not a mere re-creation of African traditions. TABL is also the pre-requisite for The Second Emancipation Program (TSEP).

 

The Second Emancipation and the Path of the True Descendant

 

The Second Emancipation and the Path of the True Descendant, is the second work in our Post-Negro Studies line up; this book is offered as an instruction manual for those engaged in IAATP’s Second Emancipation Program, which for the first time in Black American history makes overcoming Negroism (thinking and acting like Negroes—the most problematic legacy of U.S. slavery and racism) a viable option. This program assists those Black Americans who’re tired of the same old, same old and willing and able to exchange centuries of erroneous beliefs and behavior for an entirely new direction. TSEP is essentially about realizing our major mistakes as a people, so we won’t keep blindly repeating them, and overcoming the affliction of Negroism one individual at a time. Since The Great Correction (TGC) is the foundation of Post-Negroism, TGC then becomes a key reference for participants in our Second Emancipation Program.

The Second Emancipation and the Path of the True Descendant is synonymous with The Second Emancipation Program as its instruction manual, so both are referred to as TSEP.

 

IAATP—The African American Wisdom Library 

 

The African American Wisdom Library combines IAATP’s philosophical and Post-Negro Studies offerings (TGC, TABL and TSEP). This powerful combination, gives those Black Americans so inclined, the information they need to both acquire a better understanding of the world and mankind as well as overcome the affliction of Negroism (thinking and acting like Negroes—the most problematic legacy of U.S. slavery and racism). Negroism has long taken and continues to take a heavy toll on our community today; since TGC provides the sound philosophical foundation that made Post-Negroism possible, it serves as a key reference for those engaged in Post-Negro Studies.

The field of Post-Negro studies is currently represented by TABL and TSEP. These works offer new insights and solutions to the problems long faced by Black Americans, that won’t be found anywhere else. These works aren’t for every Black American but specifically for those Black Americans who have what it takes to overcome Negroism in actual practice. In other words, the African American Wisdom Library, consisting of TGC, TABL and TSEP aren’t merely for intellectual exercise or casual reading but should be seen for what they truly are—resources for much needed transformation on the individual level because any desired group change must first take place within the individual. This identifies the African American Wisdom Library as serious works for serious individuals. Black liberation is a way of life and not a movement!