“The beginning and confirmation of African American culture and society” is sometimes referred to as “an epochal moment in American history” (Morgan 12). According to what I have experienced and observed, African American culture is a unique combination of history, beliefs, ideas, music, traditions, fashions and other elements of everyday life of African American people.
As of today, the majority of African Americans speak English as their native language. However, there is also a distinctive variety named Ebonics, which is also referred to African American Vernacular English, a language spoken only be representatives of African American culture. Music of African Americans is a unique part of their culture and history. For instance, Music was critical in the organization of early slave uprisings. When brought to America, drums were used as they had been in Africa: for communication” (Sullivan 21). In the 20th century, African Americans gave rise to jazz. All in all, “African-American music has never remained static, undergoing a constant evolution from slavesong origins to the array of sophisticated forms observed in the ’60s” (Sullivan 35). The majority of African Americans are individuals with strong religious orientation as religion plays a fundamental role in the lives of African Americans. Moreover, one of the greatest values of representatives of African American culture is their family and family relations. It is a normal occurrence when several generations of African Americans typically live under one roof for a couple decades.
However, the issue of culture is much more complicated than the majority of us think of it. For instance, an individual might be ethnically African American but not be considered culturally African American. One of the most striking examples of such cases is Michael Jackson, who was an African American from an ethnical viewpoint, but was not a representative of African American culture. Not only had he changed his skin color by means of numerous surgical operations, but also had very complicated relations with other African Americans. What is more, Michael Jackson advocated Western lifestyle, which he used to lead, instead of fostering African American culture and spreading its values.
Works Cited
Morgan, Marcyliena H. Language, Discourse, and Power in African American Culture. 1st ed. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge UP, 2002. Print.
Sullivan, Megan. "African-American Music as Rebellion: From Slavesong to Hip-Hop." Discoveries John S. Knight Institute 3 (2001): 21-39. Web. 27 Jan. 2016. <http://www.arts.cornell.edu/knight_institute/publicationsprizes/discoveries/discoveriesspring2001/03sullivan.pdf>.
