African-American cultural history African-American culture

1 african-american cultural history

1.1 oral tradition
1.2 harlem renaissance
1.3 african-american cultural movement

african-american cultural history

from earliest days of american slavery in 17th century, slave owners sought exercise control on slaves attempting strip them of african culture. physical isolation , societal marginalization of african slaves and, later, of free progeny, however, facilitated retention of significant elements of traditional culture among africans in new world generally, , in u.s. in particular. slave owners deliberately tried repress independent political or cultural organization in order deal many slave rebellions or acts of resistance took place in united states, brazil, haiti, , dutch guyanas.

african cultures, slavery, slave rebellions, , civil rights movement have shaped african-american religious, familial, political, , economic behaviors. imprint of africa evident in myriad of ways: in politics, economics, language, music, hairstyles, fashion, dance, religion, cuisine, , worldview.

in turn, african-american culture has had pervasive, transformative impact on many elements of mainstream american culture. process of mutual creative exchange called creolization. on time, culture of african slaves , descendants has been ubiquitous in impact on not dominant american culture, on world culture well.

oral tradition

slaveholders limited or prohibited education of enslaved african americans because feared might empower chattel , inspire or enable emancipatory ambitions. in united states, legislation denied slaves formal education contributed maintaining strong oral tradition, common feature of indigenous african cultures. african-based oral traditions became primary means of preserving history, mores, , other cultural information among people. consistent griot practices of oral history in many african , other cultures did not rely on written word. many of these cultural elements have been passed generation generation through storytelling. folktales provided african americans opportunity inspire , educate 1 another.

examples of african-american folktales include trickster tales of br er rabbit , heroic tales such of john henry. uncle remus stories joel chandler harris helped bring african-american folk tales mainstream adoption. harris did not appreciate complexity of stories nor potential lasting impact on society. other narratives appear important, recurring motifs in african-american culture signifying monkey , ballad of shine , , legend of stagger lee.

the legacy of african-american oral tradition manifests in diverse forms. african-american preachers tend perform rather speak. emotion of subject carried through speaker s tone, volume, , cadence, tend mirror rising action, climax, , descending action of sermon. song, dance, verse, , structured pauses placed throughout sermon. call , response pervasive element of african-american oral tradition. manifests in worship in commonly referred amen corner . in direct contrast recent tradition in other american , western cultures, acceptable , common audience reaction interrupt , affirm speaker. pattern of interaction in evidence in music, particularly in blues , jazz forms. hyperbolic , provocative, incendiary, rhetoric aspect of african-american oral tradition evident in pulpit in tradition referred prophetic speech .

modernity , migration of black communities north has had history of placing strain on retention of black cultural practices , traditions. urban , radically different spaces in black culture being produced raised fears in anthropologists , sociologists southern black folk aspect of black popular culture @ risk of being lost in history. study on fear of losing black popular cultural roots south have topic of interest many anthropologists, among them include zora neale hurston. through extensive studies of southern folklore , cultural practices,hustron has claimed popular southern folklore traditions , practices not dying off. instead evolving, developing, , re-creating in different regions.

other aspects of african-american oral tradition include dozens, signifying, trash talk, rhyming, semantic inversion , word play, many of have found way mainstream american popular culture , become international phenomena.

spoken word artistry example of how african-american oral tradition has influenced modern popular culture. spoken word artists employ same techniques african-american preachers including movement, rhythm, , audience participation. rap music 1980s , beyond has been seen extension of oral culture.

harlem renaissance

zora neale hurston prominent literary figure during harlem renaissance

the first major public recognition of african-american culture occurred during harlem renaissance pioneered alain locke. in 1920s , 1930s, african-american music, literature, , art gained wide notice. authors such zora neale hurston , nella larsen , poets such langston hughes, claude mckay, , countee cullen wrote works describing african-american experience. jazz, swing, blues , other musical forms entered american popular music. african-american artists such william h. johnson , palmer hayden created unique works of art featuring african americans.

the harlem renaissance time of increased political involvement african americans. among notable african-american political movements founded in 20th century united negro improvement association , national association advancement of colored people. nation of islam, notable quasi-islamic religious movement, began in 1930s.

african-american cultural movement

the black power movement of 1960s , 1970s followed in wake of non-violent civil rights movement. movement promoted racial pride , ethnic cohesion in contrast focus on integration of civil rights movement, , adopted more militant posture in face of racism. inspired new renaissance in african-american literary , artistic expression referred african-american or black arts movement .

the works of popular recording artists such nina simone ( young, gifted , black ) , impressions ( keep on pushing ), poetry, fine arts, , literature of time, shaped , reflected growing racial , political consciousness. among prominent writers of african-american arts movement poet nikki giovanni; poet , publisher don l. lee, later became known haki madhubuti; poet , playwright leroi jones, later known amiri baraka; , sonia sanchez. other influential writers ed bullins, dudley randall, mari evans, june jordan, larry neal, , ahmos zu-bolton.

another major aspect of african-american arts movement infusion of african aesthetic, return collective cultural sensibility , ethnic pride in evidence during harlem renaissance , in celebration of négritude among artistic , literary circles in u.s., caribbean, , african continent 4 decades earlier: idea black beautiful . during time, there resurgence of interest in, , embrace of, elements of african culture within african-american culture had been suppressed or devalued conform eurocentric america. natural hairstyles, such afro, , african clothing, such dashiki, gained popularity. more importantly, african-american aesthetic encouraged personal pride , political awareness among african americans.