About the Book:This book introduces Africana Cultures and Policy Studies as an interdisciplinary field, rooted in the historical experience of people of African descent. Intentionally, these essays seek to canonize Africana historical studies for the purposes of policy development, analysis, and practical application. Africana Cultures and Policy Studies calls for a relocation and synthesis of policy-derived research emanating from public and private culture spheres. In the process, its goal is to use history and culture to engage the policy process from a top-down and bottom-up approach, thereby dissolving the previously impenetrable divides between theory and practice, academics and policymakers, and community constituencies and related social/civic institutions.