"Martial Identities As a Vehicle for African American Cultural Nationalism"

Martial arts are among the methods by which African American males have historically sought empowerment. From the colonial period African Americans played martial games derived from African wrestling, boxing, and stick-fighting and despite the "color line" excelled at combat sports. Since at least the 1950s, Black Nationalists have turned to non-European martial arts and combat sports, as during the 1960s, the Detroit-born Nation of Islam, having already adopted a non-European religion, encouraged its members to train in Asian martial arts as an element of community defense programs. During the last half of the 20th century, as some African Americans sought to minimize any connection whatsoever to "colonial" culture, African Americans who were not Black Muslims began systematically exploring African-descended dance, music, and belief systems such as santería, candomblé, or vodun, and martial arts rooted in these belief systems, arts such as African Brazilian capoeira . In addition, systems best labeled "derived arts" appeared. These arts (re)construct "African" martial arts from the raw materials that characteristically accompany and develop martial skill in African tradition (dance, music, percussion, improvisation, and so forth), and then use them to serve the ends of African American cultural nationalism. Finally, from the mid-1980s, other efforts focused on adopting and systematizing the outlaw systems of street gangs and prison fighters. In most cases, the systems operate symbolically rather than instrumentally in underscoring African martial prowess.

"Does the Jailhouse Really Rock?: African-American Vernacular Martial Systems"

Investigation of the traditional narratives surrounding "jailhouse rock," "52 Handblocks," "Jacktown," and similar martial systems.

"Authenticity, Invented Tradition and Martial Folk Biography"

Research on invented traditions and authenticity in the biographical legends of martial arts "masters".

"Masters of Streetology"

Dennis Newsome & Tom Green