Through African Eyes is a unique approach to the study of Africa which offers lively, firsthand accounts of African life and history, most of them written by Africans themselves, and introductions by the editor that compel the student to relate the study of Africa to his own life and culture and highlight the social-science concepts implied or exemplified in the readings. The educational goal is to help students develop the tools of cultural analysis that will enable them to understand all societies and peoples--their own as well as Africa's. The conceptual approach is that of the "New Social Studies," which takes the student from concrete data on Africa, to the formulation of hypotheses, to the examination of more data, and finally, to the statement of generalizations. The selections are drawn from a variety of sources autobiographies, fiction, poetry, newspaper accounts, case studies by social scientists, speeches, official documents, even underground leaflets. Together, they paint a vivd and authentic picture of African life south of the Sahara. Not only will students learn to understand the African experience "firsthand" by identifiying with the authors of these selections; they will also develop a feeling for Africans as people, like themselves despite the cultural differences, because the materials encourage students to tap their own experiences in such important areas as school, family relationships, romance, preparing for the occupational world, military sevice, and relationships to national goals. "The hope," says the editor, "is that students once they are drawn into the thoughts and feelings of individual Africans, will cease to think of African as strange or alien. The surest way to break down stereotypes is to get to know real people. And ideally, students will expand their ability to identify with all people everywhere."