An Afrocentric Analysis of the Philosophies of Howard Thurman

Abstract

This project seeks to analyze the philosophies of the African American theologian and philosopher, Howard Thurman, via Afrocentricity, to determine whether Thurman was Afrocentric in his philosophies. To examine Thurman's philosophies, a content analysis was completed using the following books by Howard Thurman: Jesus and the Disinherited, The Luminous Darkness, The Search for Common Ground, The Inward Journey, and The Temptations of Jesus. Two collections containing sermons by Thurman were used: Sermons on the Parables and Moral Struggle and the Prophets. These works were analyzed via a content analysis method while using Afrocentricity as the lens by which these works were analyzed. Additionally, Thurman's autobiography, With Head and Heart: The Autobiography of Howard Thurman was used within this discussion to examine what, if any impact, his life experiences had on his philosophies. This project found that, while there are numerous examples of similar streams of thought between Howard Thurman's philosophies and various aspects of Afrocentricity, ultimately, he cannot be labeled as an Afrocentric philosopher due to his centering and location.