African Diaspora Identity : History, Race, Culture, And Language

Cultural identity refers to identification with, or sense of belonging to, a particular group based on various cultural categories, including nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, and religion (2014). These identities are gained through ones own experiences. The study of cultural identities offers rich understandings for both oneself and others. In the world one lives in today, it has one becoming increasingly diverse; the study of cultural identities will continue to gain traction within the communication discipline and beyond (2016).

     Through our readings of the Mexicans in the U.S. and the African-American experience modules, we begin to understand the formation of identity through the hardships minorities faced from discrimination. In this paper, I am going to compare and contrast the ideas of identity shown through the readings. These two modules exemplify the theme of identity. We see how Blacks and Latinos tried to find their identity both personally and as a culture through the forced lifestyles they had to live.

Marcus Garvey, a ‘proponent of Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements” (), once stated that “a people without knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” (Good Reads Quotes) He was in fact very much so right. Most people in this world care about where they come from, who they descended from and where the backbone of their identity lies. Have you ever wondered why almost most orphans tend to look for their family lines or go out in search of where they belong? It is with this very essence my quest to look for answers and investigate about two very distinct yet similar groups. The groups I examine throughout this paper are Africans and African-Americans. What I seek to find out is why two very ‘distinct’ yet similar groups of people fail to see eye to eye, judging from the fact that Africans and African-Americans look alike, originated from Africa and their histories and culture somehow intertwine with each other. The main question here really is: what are the factors that hinder the relationship between Africans and African-American people.

In addition to this, when we look at the African diaspora it fits in many different categories. The African diaspora is one of the most complexes for they have different genealogies and several occurrences in history. Thus, this imposes who are the people that make up this culture. The author Paul Tiyambe Zeleza who is the author of New African Diaspora suggests, “There are at least four main constructions of Africa: Africa as a biology, as a space, as memory, and as representation- that is, African identities and cultures are mapped in racial, geographical, historical, or discursive term”(Zeleza, 34). Furthermore, this idea sheds light on the complexity includes multiple identities and has many pieces to

The main purpose of this paper is to explore how these second generation of African immigrants have managed to maintain themselves amidst their cultural duality. There is a recognition, thus an understanding that many of this second generation of immigrants go through that phase in their life where they try to understand and make sense of who they truly are and where they really belong. Some find closure in their natal culture while others find comfort in the idea of being solely Canadian, while for some, they are left in a loop, not being able to clearly identify who they really are.

Much of my life has pertained to being an outsider. I immigrated to America from detrimental circumstances in Haiti, therefore I was always viewed as foreign. If my accent did not reveal my identity, then my Caribbean island boy demeanor or way of dress surely would. At a young age, I gained interest in African history because as a citizen of a developing black nation, I had experienced their economic struggles, encountered similar social discriminations, and inherited comparable cultural values. Today, my academic aspirations focus primarily on the history of the African Arab States and understanding the complex events and leaders which have shaped this ever-changing region. As seen by the European refugee crisis, what happens here influences the political discourse of the world.

At its most fundamental, diaspora focuses on the physical movement of people. However, comprehensive scholarship elevates “diaspora” beyond

When I think of the word “cultural identity”, I think of myself, and what makes up who I am as a person. My cultural identity influences everything about me, from the moment I wake up, to the minute I rest my head on my pillow at night. My culture influences the way I eat, speak, worship, and interact with people. However, I am not only affected by my own culture, but others’ culture as well. I am fortunate to have an extremely rich heritage, and I couldn’t be prouder of my cultural identity.

It is essential to note that the term African Diaspora does not describe any single event, group of people or set of customs. It represents a current state of being for many citizens of the world and provides context for understanding the social structures and intercultural relationships of the world we live in today. Collin Palmer provides great insight into the context of diaspora. He writes that there have been several movements, massive migrations of people, throughout history. There is no single “diasporic movement or monolithic diasporic community” to be studied, but rather a confluence of people, events and ideologies that span thousands of years, across every continent. Each period of movement, each diasporic stream, happened for different reasons. Palmer’s approach to the African Diaspora begins with a look nearly 100,000 years into the past. He identifies five major streams, with the first African diaspora that occurred as a

Cultural identity is fluid and is developed through multidimensional aspects of one’s lived experiences, socially constructed ideals and perceptions of self. The African culture, similar to the Hawaiian culture is embedded and passed down through the creative arts. Thus, one identifies aspects of themselves through music, dance and other expressive

Stuart Hall’s Cultural Identity and Diaspora focuses on the current issues of identity, cultural practices and cultural representations. He analyses the visual representations of Afro-Caribbean’s and challenges the notions of identity from African and European places. Hall then goes on to explain how Caribbean cinema has chosen to both, refute and embrace European influence. He presents two different forms of thinking about cultural identity. In the first position, Hall defines ‘cultural identity’ in terms of one, shared culture, which people with a shared history and ancestry hold in common. The first model uses “stable, unchanging and continuous frames of reference and meanings’ to present the idea of shared culture, history, and ancestry rooted beneath ‘more superficial imposed ‘selves’” (Hall, 223).

The question of identity is always a difficult one for those living in a culture or group, yet belonging to another. This difficulty frequently remains in the mind of most immigrants, especially the second generations who were born in a country other than their parents. Younger generations feel as if they are forced to change to fit the social standards despite previous culture or group. Furthermore those who wish to adopt a new identity of a group or culture haven't yet been fully accepted by original members due to their former identity.

As a migrant, I can relate to the experience expressed by the owner of “Xquisite Africa”, the need of integration, plays an important role in the establishment of a new identity for people moving to a different country.

development of Africa, I found that in order for Africa to fully develop, it must capitalize on the potential of its Diaspora by treating them not just as people who must help Africa, but also as people who need help from Africa as well as from their host countries, and vice versa. I realized that a platform must be created to bring the Diaspora and its stakeholders together around problems and solutions that concern both. I then began writing a project to develop Africa based on its Diaspora and vice versa. By that time, I also

When I first walked into class this January I knew little if anything, about Africa, geographically and culturally speaking. At first I was hesitant about being able to relate to a culture that seemed so different than anything I am, accustom to, now in retrospect I understand how naive and ignorant those feelings were. Four months later, I am able to walk away with a solid appreciate for the many different African cultures and relevant issues. The countries that seemed so foreign to me now ring a bell when I watch the news. After having the opportunity to re-watch same video we watched on our first day of class, I could not help but notice how far I have come in grasping the idea of the African diaspora. In this essay, I will discuss the video and the impact it has left on me, I will reflect on the issues we learned are impacting Africa today, and reveal major takeaways that will stick with me as I go into the real world.