There are very many different groups of culture in America; one in particular that represents about 15% of the general population in America is African American culture (Center Of Disease Control, 2002). The African American culture was derived from the country Africa. The African people have been in and out of slavery from many different countries since the beginning of time. The English were not the first to enslave the group of people, but they were the last. When the Africans came over to the Americas in the early 1600’s, they were forced to give up many of their traditions and adapt to whatever their masters gave them to learn from although some of their native culture and history was hidden in their spirituals. When coming over to the …show more content…
When the group came over to the Americas after being introduced to the unhealthy scraps of meat byproducts, they dressed up they scraps in various seasoning and added items like greens, rice, grits, white and sweet potatoes, corn, turnips, eggplant, peanuts, homemade desserts, spinach, collards, mustard, kale, and cabbage (Dimensions of Culture, 2010). They made the best out of what they were given through their gruesome economic issues and soon they became habit and create challenges for changing behaviors and lowering disease risk in this population. In 1996, 28% of the diets of African American were deemed unhealthy compared to their white counterparts (Dimensions of Culture, 2010). With the struggling economic status of the African American group, fast and processed foods which are normally seen as inexpensive are the blame for the poor diets. Currently, the number one cause of death among African Americans is heart disease with both diabetes and stroke in the top five (Center Of Disease Control, 2002). In 2001, the death rate for diabetes was twice as high as the death rate for the white Americans (Center Of Disease Control, 2002). In the opinion of many, soul food is not worth the hassle of major health problems in the future. Just like soul food is an important part to their culture so is making sure their soul is right is as
In this paper I discuss the African-American culture in regards to values, norms and beliefs.
Artwork has been an imperative part of Black culture, and many artist share their inspirations coming from African origins. From the beginning of slave societies to present day, African America artwork has contributed to large parts of United States artistic collection. Beginning in the early 1600 to 1800 “black art took the form of small drums, quilts, wrought-iron figures and ceramic vessels in the southern United States. These artifacts have similarities with comparable crafts in West and Central Africa.” The significance of the
With Abraham’s Emancipation of Proclamation 1863 and thirteenth amendment that ratified in 1865, many African American were set free from slavery. However, African American lived in the Southern United States still was in the system of slavery. This happened because the South passed Black Codes laws which was including vagrancy laws to control those freed slavery. In fact, slavery never disappear and they just changed their name and shape. This means African American once again was trapped in the system of the South called peonage. The conditions of peonage was as worse as slavery.
In the period from 1515 to 1765, the native American society was almost destroyed unlike the wealth of societies of European settlers since contacts with alcohol and diseases like smallpox which Americans did not face before Columbian exchange make Americans lose power to resist toward colonialism. Europeans looted the gold and silver of America and did not respect Indian culture and civilization, so Americans lost both their economical and cultural assets. Moreover, because of sugar plantation and slavery, many Africans were taken from their home to America. It results foundation of African American society in many countries in Americas in modern days. First of all, native Americans lost their power because of drastic population decline caused
Regardless of their race, people need to know where they came from and why. Historically, we know that at least 450 years ago, or more, Africans were captured in their home and forcibly brought to the Americas on slave ships to work for landowners. Unfortunately, the Africans brought to the colonies were seen as inferior to the European settlers. Because of this feeling of superiority, the Africans were thought to be the property of the settlers and as such a vast majority were treated harshly. At that point in history, the Africans had lost their identity, and now that hundreds of years had passed the African-Americans have regained their identity. What constitutes the National Museum of African-American History and Culture as special
“Cooning” was a TV show or Film usually they act like idiot behavior that misrepresents African American culture. I think idiot because that shows a deliberate act. Many people called “coons.” Yes, I saw some examples today’s culture some white people still discriminate black people. Some white people were enjoying it, and that seems to some people they insulted African- American behaves. African-American got angry. It was not fair at all that behavior. All are good examples.
Many African American women have finally embraced their natural hair and are no longer perming, straightening or altering their hair. However, it has become difficult to obtain the necessary hair care products and learn the ins and outs about caring for their hair, but with the help of social media, they are obtainable. Ever since African American woman decided that they are going to embrace their natural hair, perm sales have decreased. More than 26% of perm sales have decreased since 2008 (Opie & Phillis, 2015), while perms are declining, natural hair care products are increasing. While natural hair care products are increasing, it is no thinks to big brand stores or beauty salons in near hometown. It has to do with buying
The African American Culture and Traditions A Research Study and Facts That Will Take Us Into What Makes This Culture So Unique.
Africans have, since the early settlement of America, has had a great influence in the nation’s growth. These contributions to the United States from enslaved Africans have been greatly portrayed in American culture. Varying from cuisine, to song and dance are not only portrayed today but it has a deep-rooted impact throughout the United States. During the middle passage, enslaved Africans were forced to abandon their everyday lives, their families and their homes and forced to adapt to a new lifestyle they knew nothing of. However, upon arrival into the New World, due to their prior knowledge and wisdom from back home, they were able to quickly adapt and custom themselves to this new lifestyle in order to survive with the hope of potentially one day returning back to Africa. Unfortunately, African contributions to the culture of the United States has received little to no recognition and it has been taken credit for by Europeans and Whites since the early establishment of the United States.
Many people may experience a change in how they view the world and themselves when travelling to foreign countries. In “The Discovery of What it Means to be an American”, James Baldwin’s experiences while living in Europe changes his preconceived notions of what it means to be an African-American writer and how this experience differs in Europe compared to when he was living in America. Baldwin illustrates his change of perception about himself by demonstrating the difference in culture between America and Europe through how little race mattered to Europeans concerning Americans, through the equality Europeans are blessed with concerning their occupations, and through the author’s change of perception of the world and himself after he was able
The American culture is define to everyone in their own way. Everyone grows up differently in a particular community that shares the same languages, values, rules, and customs. The American Culture on that is consider to be a “melting pot”, because of all the different cultures that reside inside of it making it so diverse. Race in this country has never been a great topic throughout history. African Americans play a huge role into defining what our culture is as a whole, as well as being a part of racism for the past 250 years.
African American culture in the United States refers to the cultural contributions of Americans of African descent to the culture of the United States, either as part of or distinct from American culture. The distinct identity of African American culture is rooted in the historical experience of the African American people. The culture is both distinct and enormously influential to American culture as a whole. African-American culture is rooted in Africa. It is a blend of chiefly sub-Saharan African and Sahelean cultures. Although slavery greatly restricted the ability of Americans of African descent to practice their cultural traditions, many practices, values, and beliefs survived and over time have modified or blended with European
Culture is basically a way of life of a group of people the behaviors, beliefs, values, and symbols that they accept, generally without thinking about them, and that are passed along by communication and imitation from one generation to another and so on. In most culture you find pro and cons, so a person culture have great impact on his or her life, because whatever you do affect you like people always you are what you eat, and your life style is your lifespan. In the African American culture, basically the black culture. You find many good and bad things.
Traditionally, the African American diet consisted of leafy green vegetables, fish, poultry, and beans. However, the cooking methods, such as deep frying, the heavy use of gravy, pork fat, and butter add a large amount fat and cholesterol to an otherwise heart-healthy diet. “Soul food” with its fried chicken, fried pork chops, and corn bread have become the traditional comfort food, and there is a large significant placed in the African-American culture on community and family gatherings centered around food. Historically, African-Americans lived a highly active lifestyle that compensated for a higher than average fat content in their diet. As modern trends swing toward a more sedentary lifestyle, the direct result is heart disease rising to be the leading cause of death among African-Americans (Cowling, 2006, p8).
For many years, African-American culture developed separately from Westernized culture, both because of slavery and the persistence of racial discrimination in America. As a result, African-American slave descendants desired to create and maintain traditions of their own. Today, African-American culture has become a staple facet of American culture while still maintaining its individuality. African Americans who remained in the South have carved out their own path that continuously influences the socioeconomic and