Boston University African Studies Center 270 Bay State Road Boston, Massachusetts 02215 (617) 353-3673 email: africa@bu.edu www.bu.edu/africa

1. Is Africa characterized as a country rather than a continent?

2. Is North Africa treated as though it is not part of Africa?

3. Is the focus primarily on the lifestyle of small atypical groups (e.g. San, Massai)?

4. Are the illustrations representative and non-stereotypical? Is diversity shown and described (e.g. rural/urban; wealthy/middle class; rich/poor; farmers/business; people/doctors).

5. Is there a balance between information on men and women? Are the problems that African women face placed in global contexts and accurately described?

6. Is history presented in chronological stages beginning with the early and ancient times, or is the primary focus on the colonial period and the actions of Europeans in Africa?

7. Are offensive, inaccurate or biased terms used?

Inaccurate/offensive terms: native, hut, jungle, witchdoctor, dialect, primitive, warlike, uncivilized, pagan, tribe.

Inaccurate/offensive names for groups: Bantu (correct: Bantu-speaking), Pygmy (correct: Mbuti); Bushmen (correct: San or hunter-gatherers); Hottentot (correct: Khoikhoi).

Western Bias: developing, underdeveloped, civilized, emerging, backward, non-white, non-Western, Black African, communist.

8. Are Africans described as "animists" who worship trees, rocks or insects?

9. Are "folktales" over-represented in elementary collections?

10. Do materials reflect African viewpoints and perspectives?

11. Do collections and curricula reflect an infusion of knowledge about Africa into various disciplines and subjects?

Source: Africa Access Review, www.africaaccessreview.org