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Originally Posted by 4MYPEOPLE
No, I do not think African American's have much of a "cultural identity". Unfortunately most of what makes up our "cultural identity" is borrowed, learned, etc. from other cultures. The hodgepodge of food, speach, music, dance, dress that we have borrowed and learned has yet to be truly established as "our cultural identity", therefore just looks very "unauthentic" and "unoriginal" (ie. Swahili names, East African Cloth, West African jumping of the broom, Carribbean music etc.)
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We are a mixed people. Our identity is both borrowed and original. We are not the only group of people who have taken things from our ancestors and more immediate backgrounds, made it our own and added to it.
There is no such thing as an "authentic" or "original" group of people. It all came from somewhere and it usually didn't come from the group who's most known for it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4MYPEOPLE
I recently attended the African American Day parade in NYC and was a bit uplifted that we do have a "cultural" identity somewhat, but most of it was very collegiate focused ie. Marching Bands, Sororities and Fraternities Strolled, Elected Officials" and didnt quite encompass all or most African American people.
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What does this mean? Our "fun activities" aren't what constitute cultural identity. But even those "fun activities" have rich African Diasporic roots that include but are not limited to the traditions established in North America. So the foundation of what you witnessed at that parade can be found in most African American communities.