Sankofa (Re)search Model: (Re)membering, (Re)storing, and (Re)birthing Black Boys and Men

Sankofa (Re)search Model: (Re)membering, (Re)storing, and (Re)birthing Black Boys and Men introduces the Sankofa/Healer Model, a transformative research framework grounded in African-centered thought and praxis. Drawing on decades of work with Black boys and men, the co-cyphers, Dr. Lawson Bush, Dr. Edward Bush, and Dr. Amiri Mahnzili, present a culturally aligned method for reclaiming fragmented histories, restoring identities, and creating liberatory narratives. The three-pronged model‒ (Re)member, (Re)store, and (Re)birth‒emphasizes healing and empowerment, offering practical tools for conducting research that is both rigorous and restorative.

Rooted in African cosmology, this work critiques deficit-based frameworks, proposing instead a method that centers cultural authenticity and African epistemologies. Designed for researchers, educators, and practitioners in Africana Studies and related fields, Sankofa equips readers with tools to decolonize methodologies, critique dominant frameworks, and create scholarship that liberates and restores the narratives of Black boys and men. This essential guide advances the Little Black Book Series’ mission to elevate pure, decolonized Black thought and empower scholars to create impactful, community-centered research.