African American Culture
African American culture is both parts of distinct from American culture. The earliest presence was in North America, Africans, and African Americans have contributed literature, art, agricultural skills, foods, clothing style, music, and languages to American cultures.
Language is imposed on the African American community. Slave owners often intentionally mixed people who spoke many different languages other than English on their plantations. Some of there condition was development of pidgins simplified mixtures of two or more languages that speakers of different languages could use to communicate with each other. Creole language is a native language. The grammatical and orthographical features with Creole and West African languages.
Religion in African American lives are mostly the same as other. But basically the most common religion is Christianity. The person that was under christianity was Pope Nicolas V. He instituted hereditary slavery ofAfricans with his Dum Diversas. He also classify Africans as Muslims and pagans. Christianity was "Freed" because slave owners prevented their property from learning about Christianity. Christianity was used as a tool to subjugate slaves and make them easier to control. The AME Church became the first national black Church in U.S history. Churches have enabled blacks to worship in their own culturally distinct ways and assume positions of leadership denied to them in mainstream America. Islam was another religion that Africans was in to. Islamic religion practice in African American community in many forms in black nationalist Moorish science Temples in 1913.
The agriculture product in the U.S is yams, peanuts, rice, okra, sorghum, grits, watermelon, indigo dyes, and cotton.
African Americans was really grow up on "Soul Food" cooking. Soul Food cooking is not and everyday thing but some families might have it as an everyday thing. Most soul food cooking is cooked by mothers, grandmas, and great grandmas. Back then African Americans was not allowed to eat meat or better cuts but after the Emancipation they were to poor to afford any food. Soul Food cooking is "Southern Cooking" but also went nationwide through black families. Most Africans grow up on pig intestines and fried foods.
The Most common food they eat when it a Soul Food Dinner.
African Americans incorporate Africn cultural practices into their everyday lives. And when its an cook out you will enjoy every bit of it.
In 1926 African American scholar Carter Godwin woodson organized the "First Negro History Week". To focus attention on previously neglected aspects of the black experience in the United States and found the NAACP. they had came up with "Black History Month" what that mean is that we are honoring notable African Americans. Kwanzaa: woman lighting the kinara. Kwanzaa is observed each year from December 26-January 01. Their African heritage and the importance of family and community by drinking a unity cup, lighting red, green, and black candles. The people that celebrate Kwanzaa hope to strengthen black community by adhering to seven guiding principles.
Words from Swahili Language
The other holiday that African Americans celebrate is Juneteeth "The 19th of June". That holiday is an holiday that everyone get together and celebrate black history and while celebrating having fun with it to. In Austin we celebrate Juneteeth on Rosewood on Eastside of Austin Texas. Its an event that goes on all day of enjoyment. Juneteeth is original out of Galveston Texas led by Major General Gordon Granger. Texas and Louisiana Juneteeth is now celebrated in black communities all over the U.S with:
Another African American holiday is Malcolm X Day and we celebrate that on May 19 "19th of May" which is celebrated to commemorate the achievements of Malcolm X prominent black nationnalist during the days of Civil Rights Movement.
To learn more about "African American Culture" Join the wonderful "African American Culture Club".
When: Tuesday & Thursday (7:30-8:00a.m)
Where: LBJ High School Library Fiction Room
To get more information about the "Club" talk to the wonderful ladies : Ms. Rhonda Thomas & Ms. Elaine Thompson