Final answer:
This response tackles the question about who describes the destructive attitudes of many contemporary African Americans that may have derived from slavery. The scholar Melville J. Herskovits, along with historical figures like Frederick Douglass and Southern theorists such as Thomas R. Dew and George Fitzhugh, provided perspectives on these attitudes that have deep roots in America's history of slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
From a psychohistorical perspective, numerous scholars and figures capture the destructive attitudes among many contemporary African Americans that may have originated from slavery. However, it seems the student’s question is referencing the work of scholar Melville J. Herskovits, who discussed the perpetuation of inferiority myths about African heritage, primarily used to justify the institution of slavery in the United States.
Historical figures like Frederick Douglass represented a shift towards self-assertion and self-development, despite the persistent racial prejudices. Furthermore, southern theorists such as Thomas R. Dew and George Fitzhugh rigorously defended the institution of slavery and presumed racial inferiority, which, they argued, enabled the 'civilization' of African people and maintained social order.
These historical perspectives highlight the lingering effects of societal attitudes formed during eras of intense racial stratification and exploitation, the repercussions of which are still experienced by African Americans today.
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