A Message from the President

It is stated in Proverbs, 29:18 "Where there is no vision, the people perish: . . ." When one examines the modern day circumstances of African-Americans, one cannot help but to wonder if we have lost the freedom visions of our ancestors.  If one could talk to Martin Delany, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Fredrick Douglass, David Walker or Booker T. Washington, what would they say about our present day situation? What would W. E. B. DuBois, Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, Shirley Chisom, Mary McCleod Bethune or Martin Luther King, Jr. say about the direction of our freedom struggle? Just what would our ancestors say to us--the current keepers of the African-American community vision?

The 1997 Association of Social and Behavioral Scientists Conference theme, "Restoring, Rebuilding, Reclaiming: The Three R’s of the 21^st Century," sets an exciting framework for scholars, students, and community people to examine the status of the African American vision. The conference affords us the opportunity to restore our understanding of our ancestors’ collective vision. Once having gained this restored understanding, it places us in the position to continue the psychological, social, moral, and spiritual rebuilding of the African-American community. This rebuilding process, guided by the restored vision, will become a guide to African-Americans reclaiming their rightful place in the family of mankind.

So much depends upon African-Americans restoring, rebuilding, and reclaiming the ancestors’ vision. Our survival and growth as people are dependent upon this occurring. History provides us with plenty of examples of nations, tribes, and societies that lost their vision and perished. Remember the Incas and Mayas? We cannot afford to ignore the lessons of history as we may become a footnote in history.

I welcome you to Nashville. I am sure that you will find the 1997 conference inspirational and educational. This conference would not have been possible without the hard work of Ms. Patricia McGill-Tillman, Program Chair and President-Elect. Her efforts combined with those of Dr. Alyce Eason, Dr. Ruth Dennis and Dr. Jackie Fleming have resulted in this excellent conference. I would also like to thank the Association of Social and Behavioral Scientists, Board of Trustees and members for their support during the past year.

Michael R. Williams

ASBS President - 1996-97

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, Ohio