Do We As African Americans Have A Culture?

[DSTeny]

Hello Sorors,
I wanted to get some of your opinions on this topic. Do you think that we as African Americans have a culture? The discussion was brought up in a social setting with my peers, and many of us had different views. My apologies if this subject has already been tackled.

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally Posted by DSTeny

Hello Sorors,
I wanted to get some of your opinions on this topic. Do you think that we as African Americans have a culture? The discussion was brought up in a social setting with my peers, and many of us had different views. My apologies if this subject has already been tackled.

I am going to edit your title if you don't mind.

Also, do you mean is there something specific to African Americans that defines us culturally?

I know Soror DST Chaos will chime in on this.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by CrimsonTide4

I know Soror DST Chaos will chime in on this.

You rannnnnnnng?

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

You rannnnnnnng?

I knew this would be right up your sociological alley.

[4MYPEOPLE]

No.

Hi Sorors and Sisterfriends. I do not post much, but enjoy the board when I have 2 secs free from my crazy job. Anywho...

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.)

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.

[DSTCHAOS]

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.)

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.

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.

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.

[4MYPEOPLE]

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.

I would tend to disagree with you. There are definitely "original" people and original cultures in certain areas. The Native Americans are the "original" people of this hemisphere. Their cultural identity today is mixed as well because of the infusion of White America later, however they certainly have cultural aspects, religious, foods that are their own. Not borrowed. And even the cultural aspects that are borrowed in certain cultures were borrowed waaay more than 300 years ago..so it has been INFUSED as their culture..stolen or not. Many cultures have thousands of years of history.

I think its an unfortunate predicament of people who's identity has been stolen because of slavery, oppression etc.-therefore everything that makes up their identity is borrowed somewhat from SOOO many different cultures that the mix is often NOT embraced by the masses. And as I said earlier, this happened so recently (in a sociological sense) that it is not suprising to me that we do not have a firm "cultural" identity. I am sure in 500 years there will be one, that is formed of the borrowed culture, language, food, ideas, colors etc. but has become our own. right now, i dont think we are there yet.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by 4MYPEOPLE

I would tend to disagree with you. There are definitely "original" people and original cultures in certain areas. The Native Americans are the "original" people of this hemisphere. Their cultural identity today is mixed as well because of the infusion of White America later, however they certainly have cultural aspects, religious, foods that are their own. Not borrowed. And even the cultural aspects that are borrowed in certain cultures were borrowed waaay more than 300 years ago..so it has been INFUSED as their culture..stolen or not. Many cultures have thousands of years of history.

You say this because you don't know where the Native Americans derived some aspects of their culture from.

Both Native Americans and black Americans developed cultural tools through adaptation.

Black Americans had borrowed some aspects of our culture 200 years ago. Ever read about the activities of the slaves and free blacks during the Slave Era? These things have become infused as our culture...stolen or not. We would have thousands of years of history if we had not been sold from our native lands.

Originally Posted by 4MYPEOPLE

[I think its an unfortunate predicament of people who's identity has been stolen because of slavery, oppression etc.-therefore everything that makes up their identity is borrowed somewhat from SOOO many different cultures that the mix is often NOT embraced by the masses. And as I said earlier, this happened so recently (in a sociological sense) that it is not suprising to me that we do not have a firm "cultural" identity. I am sure in 500 years there will be one, that is formed of the borrowed culture, language, food, ideas, colors etc. but has become our own. right now, i dont think we are there yet.

Well, in a sociological sense it wasn't that recent and we do have a firm cultural identity. What we are looking at is the remnants of slavery and oppression, in addition to present-day social constructs. However our identity as black people is not that of an oppressed people. We have so much history and tradition outside of being enslaved and oppressed that we sell ourselves short by denying it. What happened/s to us makes us stronger and adds to our identity--it doesn't take it away or is the sole definer of us.

No need to wait 500 years. It's here now so people need to stop denying us what other groups have been afforded.

[neosoul]

As an African who has only been in America for 5 yrs, and has spent only 1 yr out of that 5 immersed in the black community, I would say yes, Black or African Americans' have a culture. If there was no culture, why is the entire would clamouring to be just like Black/African Americans? Not just the food, but the people, the language, the way of life, expressions, traditions... it is extremely rich.

I enjoy learning more Black/African Americans, my favourite class was African American Literature...

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by 4MYPEOPLE

...it is not suprising to me that we do not have a firm "cultural" identity...

From your entire post where I garnered this one statement, first, somebody has told you a pack of lies. I am not even beginning to joke...

You have "bought into" the concept that African Americans come from a "DEFICIENT" culture.

• Highest criminality rates
• Worst health outcomes
• Lowest academic acheivers
• etc.

What you are "witnessing" is what "they" want you to believe and what "they" want you to buy into... And you have "bought into it" "lock, stock and barrel". You have been "bamboozled", "jacked" and "punk'd".

You need to ANOINT yourself of YOUR history and REVEAL in it: The Good, The Bad and The Fugly... Then, you must not be ashamed of it.

Moreover, you ain't the representative for the "race"--nor as I... Why defend pathetic negroes? And especially, you, without thorough education--spell that Utamaaroho...

Most African Americans do not have a firm "cultural identity" because there has be a blatant extermination of the African (spell that Black, if you need a reference) family structure. The young people have no role models and barely know THEIR history. Moreover, young people have no self-esteem or self-confidence and the support systems absent.

Some of my Pan-Afrikanists friends would say, you need to be "Re-Afrikan Centered".

[orighu]

4MYPEOPLE I guess I have a seperate question? Do African Americans only have to have 1 culture? I believe we as a diaspora have many different cultures that are borrowed from other cultures, doesn't that in itself make a culture? How much time needs to past before a firm culture is established?

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

From your entire post where I garnered this one statement, first, somebody has told you a pack of lies. I am not even beginning to joke...

You have "bought into" the concept that African Americans come from a "DEFICIENT" culture.

• Highest criminality rates
• Worst health outcomes
• Lowest academic acheivers
• etc.

What you are "witnessing" is what "they" want you to believe and what "they" want you to buy into... And you have "bought into it" "lock, stock and barrel". You have been "bamboozled", "jacked" and "punk'd".

You need to ANOINT yourself of YOUR history and REVEAL in it: The Good, The Bad and The Fugly... Then, you must not be ashamed of it.

Moreover, you ain't the representative for the "race"--nor as I... Why defend pathetic negroes? And especially, you, without thorough education--spell that Utamaaroho...

Most African Americans do not have a firm "cultural identity" because there has be a blatant extermination of the African (spell that Black, if you need a reference) family structure. The young people have no role models and barely know THEIR history. Moreover, young people have no self-esteem or self-confidence and the support systems absent.

Some of my Pan-Afrikanists friends would say, you need to be "Re-Afrikan Centered".

Essentially, white liberals and misinformed black people think it adds to "the struggle" to portray blacks as victims of oppression and a stolen identity. Then we are depicted as a lost and confused people who don't know which end to wipe. This makes "white supremacists" happy because they have long argued that we are a deficient people who are easily bamboozled because we lack a sense of identity and brain power. The equivalent of mules who can sing and dance but that's it. They also argued that we don't have a real identity so we will take on whatever identity is given to us without any protest. We need to know that these assertions are not true. If they were true, there wouldn't have been a movement to keep blacks from learning how to read and vote. Why would they care if musically talented mules can read and vote?

The truth of the matter is that we are an empowered people that needs to realize our qualities and power. We realize this on a small scale but fail to realize it on a larger scale. This doesn't mean that racism and discrimination will not exist or that blacks will completely overpower the status quo. It means that we will stop selling ourselves short and also stop allowing white liberals to sell us short.

[sigmadiva]

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.)

I strongly disagree with this statement. In fact, I feel that it is the other way around. Other cultures tend to borrow / steal from us. Elvis Presley only became famous because he copied the moves and sounds of popular Black American R&B singers and gropus of his day.

There was a time in this country where anything associated with being a Black American was strongly banned. Our music was considered 'jungle-bunny' music, but young White kids still liked it. So, to make it 'okay' to listen to our music, Elvis was 'invented'. He was a 'safe' alternative for White kids of the 50's and 60's.

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.

Please keep in mind that the African continent is composed of very diverse countries and ethnic gropus. When our ancestors were brought over here, any cultural identity that our ancsetors had was beaten out of us, literally and figuratively. So, over the centuries what ever cultural identity the ancestors had has been removed and diluted.

So, while its nice to have an African American Day parade, it is about as significant as having a European American Day parade. Europe is composed of many diverse cultures and languages that trying to combine them all in one neat package can become rather daunting.

[4MYPEOPLE]

Please keep in mind that the African continent is composed of very diverse countries and ethnic gropus. When our ancestors were brought over here, any cultural identity that our ancsetors had was beaten out of us, literally and figuratively. So, over the centuries what ever cultural identity the ancestors had has been removed and diluted.

This is exactly what I mean. I think because we have lost our identity through the diaspora, we as African Americans (today's black American in America) lack a "cultural" identity. I think it will take hundreds of years to pick, and choose, and participate, and borrow, and influence to finally have an "identity" of our own. I think music is the start...jazz, r&b, hip hop...but we have a ways to go to have an established "cultural identity" because we were robbed of it.

[laylo]

Basic definitions of culture used by any sociologist or anthropologist, though not 100% agreed upon, would never include a requirement of ancientness or "originality" (remember, ALL human life started in one part of the world and expanded outward). Saying that ours doesn't "count" as a culture yet because it is not established enough is to infer standards that are totally arbitrary. Talking about culture is only useful when understood as something people can attest to experiencing, and I can attest to experiencing Black culture, HBCU culture, hip-hop culture, American culture, New York City culture, etc. No scholar worth his or her salt is going to tell me I cannot.