African American Culture

to time, place, and particular people. Learning about other people can help us to understand ourselves and to be better world

citizens. One of the most common ways of studying culture is to focus on the differences within and among cultures. Although

their specifics may vary form one culture to another, sociologists refer to those elements or characteristics that can be found

in every know society as cultural universals. For example, in all societies, funeral rites include expression of grief, disposing of

the dead, and rituals that define the relations of the dead with the living. And on the most significant cultural universals is the

incest taboo, a cultural norm prohibiting marriage or sexual relations between certain kin. Whether the underlying basis of

human behavior is biological or purely learned, how we channel that behavior is an important aspect of culture. From the time

we are born, we are socialized to believe that our way of life is one that is good, civilized, and above reproach. Such ideals

usually sets the tone for what sociologist would refer to as ethnoc

. . .
African Americans saw music as a way of

communicating with each other. Ham hocks and neck bones provide seasoning to soups, beans, and boiled greens. The celebration of Juneteenth, the day that the emancipation was signed, is celebrated annually by African

Americans. Every Black experience is shared by all, however, there are links in our

heritage or our “culture” that binds one to another. Yet, as a people, we

thought it necessary to hold on these priceless teachings because it has served as the only link to our African ancestry.

Kwanzaa, derived from the harvest rituals of Africans, is observed each year from December 26 through January 1 by many

African Americans. There are distinctive patterns of language use

among African Americans that arose as creative responses to the hardships imposed on the African American community. People who celebrate Kwanzaa hope to strengthen the black

community by adhering to the seven guiding principles, designated by the terms from the Swahili language: umoja (unity),

kujichagulia (self-determination), umija (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose),

kuumba (creativity), and imani (faith). “Soul food,” a cuisine commonly associated with African Americans in the South, makes creative use of ]

inexpensive products. Many African Americans do not see the Fourth of July as a day of celebration and not a part of their culture. The

cultivation and use of many agricultural products, such as yams, peanuts, rice, okra, grits, and cotton, can be traced to

African and African American influences. Other common

foods, such as fried chicken and black-eyed peas and rice, are prepared simply.

During slavery, slave-owners defined dancing as sinful because slaves crossed their feet to dance. Often they were not allowed to congregate together so they sang songs to convey messages

to each other.

African American culture is both part of and distinct from American culture.

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Approximate Word count = 955
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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