AN AFROCENTRIC PERSPECTIVE ON SOCIAL-WELFARE PHILOSOPHY AND POLICY

Although much of the literature on American social welfare philosophy and policy is progressive and sincere in its objectives to dismantle p overty and economic oppression, the literature is limited in two impor tant areas: 1) identifying American social welfare philosophy and poli cy as primarily Eurocentric in its worldview, and 2) applying the cult ural values of people of color as a conceptual base to advance and div ersify views on social welfare philosophy and policy. To address this gap, this paper draws on the viewpoints of a cadre of social scientist s called Afrocentrists and applies the Afrocentric worldview to descri be how it conceives social welfare philosophy and what social welfare policies it would support. It is suggested that the Afrocentric perspe ctive on social welfare philosophy is predicated on a collective, spir itual, and morally affirming idea of societal relations and government and individual responsibility that advocates enhanced educational opp ortunities, guaranteed minimum income, universal health care coverage, and workplace friendly and cooperative atmospheres.