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Papers by Kenja McCray

International Journal of Online Pedagogy and Course Design, 2019

The development and demonstration of students' critical thinking skills is one hallmark of effect... more The development and demonstration of students' critical thinking skills is one hallmark of effective teaching and learning. A promising scholarly literature has emerged in addition to webinars, conferences, and workshops to assist in this endeavor. Further, publishers offer cleverly marketed bundle packages with enhanced supplemental materials and instructors contribute instructional strategies and techniques. Nevertheless, gaps still exist in the scholarship related to effective student engagement. The development of higher order thinking skills in online educational settings is one such area requiring additional inquiry. This article transitions beyond mere theoretical constructs regarding best practices and standards for distance education. In doing so, it provides practical applications through the use of case studies in demonstrating a “how to” student engagement model and framework, which fosters the type of online course environment and useful strategies for developing critical thinking skills.

Murmurations: Emergence, Equity and Education, 2018

This article is centered on my memories of participating in campus-based rites of pas-sage activi... more This article is centered on my memories of participating in campus-based rites of pas-sage activities. The program was open to women aged eighteen to thirty-five and took place in the Atlanta University Center during the black cultural renaissance of the 1990s. My recollections align with scholarly findings, which assert such programs bolster relationships that improve students’ self-perceptions, encourage cooperation, and support retention and graduation efforts. Researchers also note that the programs discourage substance abuse, coercion, and violence. Given current trends signaling renewed interest in African-centered ideals and black pride, many aspects of rites of passage programs could appeal to students looking for safe spaces in an increasingly fractured socio-political climate. This paper additionally calls for more research on collegiate rites-based groups of the era.We know few details about them despite the fact that their importance is suggested in the literature.

Focus on College Success: FYEX 1630 First Year Experience, 4th ed., 2016

"Dream Big" is meant to inspire freshmen to carefully reflect on the types of goals they set for ... more "Dream Big" is meant to inspire freshmen to carefully reflect on the types of goals they set for themselves. It stresses the importance of thinking about the present and future while not forgetting about the past. A faculty committee selected the essay, which was published in the Fall 2016 edition of the Atlanta Metropolitan State College First Year Experience course reader.

This thesis examines the ways citizens of Oyotunji Village, South Carolina joined twentieth centu... more This thesis examines the ways citizens of Oyotunji Village, South Carolina joined twentieth century black nationalist ideology with what they perceived as Yoruba and Fon cultural elements over two decades to form an innovative community. This study was based on the premise that Oyotunji villagers consciously excised “European” characteristics from Cuban and Haitian Africanisms and, in turn, intertwined the Yoruba and Fon cultures upon which the Africanisms were based with black-nationalist ideology. In this way, the villagers helped develop a unique brand of Orisa worship, rich with black-nationalist concepts. Moreover, through their efforts to build an independent nation based on West African cultural values, villagers began a distinct movement that can be placed on the black-nationalist continuum.

Oral history narratives from interviews conducted by the author were important in reconstructing the history of the village. As is the case with many other African-American communities, Oyotunji residents left few written documents, hence the importance of oral interviews. Additionally, oral history allows the voices of several, long-term village citizens to elucidate important aspects of Oyotunji’s history. This study differs from the seminal published account of the Village, which was written by Carl M. Hunt and entitled Oyotunji African Village: The Yoruba Movement in America. While Hunt places village founder, Oseijeman Adefunmi, as the central figure in Oyotunji’s development, this study brings the words and thoughts of several other residents involved in village development to the center of the discussion. The use of oral history allows for a more wholistic account of Oyotunji Village development, which could not have occurred without the participation of such “ordinary” villagers. The conclusions drawn from this study suggest that Oyotunji citizens developed a “neo-syncretic” Africanism in the diaspora. Moreover, they contributed an innovative paradigm to black-nationalist thought. This unique paradigm was used by some African Americans in the struggle against cultural domination in the United States.

This is a short encyclopedia entry providing a general overview of Oyotunji Village.

The current study used a qualitative design informed by indigenous research methodologies to desc... more The current study used a qualitative design informed by indigenous research methodologies to describe how indigenous African healers and their clients address Western-defined mental health problems. Healers for this study included Orìsà priests initiated within the Yorùbá-based system of Ifá. Two research questions guided this inquiry: (1) How do Orìsà priests and their clients conceptualize issues and concerns associated with mental health problems in Western psychology (2) What methods and techniques do Orìsà priests and their clients use to address issues and concerns associated with mental health problems in Western psychology? Data were collected during semistructured individual interviews with Orìsà priests in a three phase model. The study also included focus groups with informants who sought the services of Orìsà priests. A combined total of 18 interviews were conducted that included 22 separate respondents residing within the southeastern United States. The following steps were employed to enhance methodological rigor: (1) bracketing of assumptions by the research team members, (2) use of a reflexive journal, (3) member checking, and (4) an audit trail. Data analysis consisted of a recursive process divided into multiple steps including codebook development, code application, and data analysis. Three major themes emerged from the data: (1) Conceptualization of Mental Health Problems as Spiritual Matters, (2) Origins of Mental Health Problems, and (3) Addressing Mental Health Problems. Results of this study indicate that respondents primarily conceptualize mental health problems as spiritual matters and seek to address these concerns with an Orìsà priest first. Practice and research implications for psychologists are discussed.

African Americans underuse counseling services because of factors such as cultural mistrust, stig... more African Americans underuse counseling services because of factors such as cultural mistrust, stigma, and culturally incongruent treatment interventions. As a result, this population relies on informal healing networks. The foundations of these networks have been outlined within the professional literature. However, limited attention has been given to the indigenous healing methods used by African Americans in lieu of counseling. This article explores the conceptual, diagnostic, and treatment strategies of the indigenous healing system, Yorùbá-based Ifá.

Talks by Kenja McCray

Book Reviews by Kenja McCray

The Sixties: A Journal of History, Politics and Culture , 2019

International Journal of Online Pedagogy and Course Design, 2019

The development and demonstration of students' critical thinking skills is one hallmark of effect... more The development and demonstration of students' critical thinking skills is one hallmark of effective teaching and learning. A promising scholarly literature has emerged in addition to webinars, conferences, and workshops to assist in this endeavor. Further, publishers offer cleverly marketed bundle packages with enhanced supplemental materials and instructors contribute instructional strategies and techniques. Nevertheless, gaps still exist in the scholarship related to effective student engagement. The development of higher order thinking skills in online educational settings is one such area requiring additional inquiry. This article transitions beyond mere theoretical constructs regarding best practices and standards for distance education. In doing so, it provides practical applications through the use of case studies in demonstrating a “how to” student engagement model and framework, which fosters the type of online course environment and useful strategies for developing critical thinking skills.

Murmurations: Emergence, Equity and Education, 2018

This article is centered on my memories of participating in campus-based rites of pas-sage activi... more This article is centered on my memories of participating in campus-based rites of pas-sage activities. The program was open to women aged eighteen to thirty-five and took place in the Atlanta University Center during the black cultural renaissance of the 1990s. My recollections align with scholarly findings, which assert such programs bolster relationships that improve students’ self-perceptions, encourage cooperation, and support retention and graduation efforts. Researchers also note that the programs discourage substance abuse, coercion, and violence. Given current trends signaling renewed interest in African-centered ideals and black pride, many aspects of rites of passage programs could appeal to students looking for safe spaces in an increasingly fractured socio-political climate. This paper additionally calls for more research on collegiate rites-based groups of the era.We know few details about them despite the fact that their importance is suggested in the literature.

Focus on College Success: FYEX 1630 First Year Experience, 4th ed., 2016

"Dream Big" is meant to inspire freshmen to carefully reflect on the types of goals they set for ... more "Dream Big" is meant to inspire freshmen to carefully reflect on the types of goals they set for themselves. It stresses the importance of thinking about the present and future while not forgetting about the past. A faculty committee selected the essay, which was published in the Fall 2016 edition of the Atlanta Metropolitan State College First Year Experience course reader.

This thesis examines the ways citizens of Oyotunji Village, South Carolina joined twentieth centu... more This thesis examines the ways citizens of Oyotunji Village, South Carolina joined twentieth century black nationalist ideology with what they perceived as Yoruba and Fon cultural elements over two decades to form an innovative community. This study was based on the premise that Oyotunji villagers consciously excised “European” characteristics from Cuban and Haitian Africanisms and, in turn, intertwined the Yoruba and Fon cultures upon which the Africanisms were based with black-nationalist ideology. In this way, the villagers helped develop a unique brand of Orisa worship, rich with black-nationalist concepts. Moreover, through their efforts to build an independent nation based on West African cultural values, villagers began a distinct movement that can be placed on the black-nationalist continuum.

Oral history narratives from interviews conducted by the author were important in reconstructing the history of the village. As is the case with many other African-American communities, Oyotunji residents left few written documents, hence the importance of oral interviews. Additionally, oral history allows the voices of several, long-term village citizens to elucidate important aspects of Oyotunji’s history. This study differs from the seminal published account of the Village, which was written by Carl M. Hunt and entitled Oyotunji African Village: The Yoruba Movement in America. While Hunt places village founder, Oseijeman Adefunmi, as the central figure in Oyotunji’s development, this study brings the words and thoughts of several other residents involved in village development to the center of the discussion. The use of oral history allows for a more wholistic account of Oyotunji Village development, which could not have occurred without the participation of such “ordinary” villagers. The conclusions drawn from this study suggest that Oyotunji citizens developed a “neo-syncretic” Africanism in the diaspora. Moreover, they contributed an innovative paradigm to black-nationalist thought. This unique paradigm was used by some African Americans in the struggle against cultural domination in the United States.

This is a short encyclopedia entry providing a general overview of Oyotunji Village.

The current study used a qualitative design informed by indigenous research methodologies to desc... more The current study used a qualitative design informed by indigenous research methodologies to describe how indigenous African healers and their clients address Western-defined mental health problems. Healers for this study included Orìsà priests initiated within the Yorùbá-based system of Ifá. Two research questions guided this inquiry: (1) How do Orìsà priests and their clients conceptualize issues and concerns associated with mental health problems in Western psychology (2) What methods and techniques do Orìsà priests and their clients use to address issues and concerns associated with mental health problems in Western psychology? Data were collected during semistructured individual interviews with Orìsà priests in a three phase model. The study also included focus groups with informants who sought the services of Orìsà priests. A combined total of 18 interviews were conducted that included 22 separate respondents residing within the southeastern United States. The following steps were employed to enhance methodological rigor: (1) bracketing of assumptions by the research team members, (2) use of a reflexive journal, (3) member checking, and (4) an audit trail. Data analysis consisted of a recursive process divided into multiple steps including codebook development, code application, and data analysis. Three major themes emerged from the data: (1) Conceptualization of Mental Health Problems as Spiritual Matters, (2) Origins of Mental Health Problems, and (3) Addressing Mental Health Problems. Results of this study indicate that respondents primarily conceptualize mental health problems as spiritual matters and seek to address these concerns with an Orìsà priest first. Practice and research implications for psychologists are discussed.

African Americans underuse counseling services because of factors such as cultural mistrust, stig... more African Americans underuse counseling services because of factors such as cultural mistrust, stigma, and culturally incongruent treatment interventions. As a result, this population relies on informal healing networks. The foundations of these networks have been outlined within the professional literature. However, limited attention has been given to the indigenous healing methods used by African Americans in lieu of counseling. This article explores the conceptual, diagnostic, and treatment strategies of the indigenous healing system, Yorùbá-based Ifá.

The Sixties: A Journal of History, Politics and Culture , 2019