ABSTRACT
My entrance into Black or African American studies dates from 1968 when African American studies in the mainstream academy was in its formative stages.1 From its origin, the mission of Black studies involved the production of knowledge that could lead to theory building for the purpose of cultural and institutional development and group elevation. This mission requires intellectual innovation and cultural continuity and speaks to the critical importance of intergenerational dialogue. Intergenerational dialogue is necessary to produce new and useful ideas, give them priority and power in existing intellectual discourse (which is dominated by Eurocentric content, goals, and objectives), and preserve and transmit these ideas to future generations as foundational elements and as strategies for group advancement.