African American Pop Culture

This report investigates the differences between the Somali culture and the Australian Western Culture; the differences in religion, clothing, food, language and arts will all be examined. Somalia, like all countries, has it’s own special traditions and customs which are regularly practiced by its people. Both primary and secondary sources will be used to obtain quality literature.

Chapter 1: What does the Civil Rights Movement gave to the African-Americans compared to Hip Hop as a subculture/movement.

Over the course of many years, African Americans have influenced communities in many ways. African Americans have been used as slaves and segregated. After overcoming these struggles, they later were granted freedoms and rights. Many African American individuals have overcome these hard times and worked hard to achieve their dreams. Misty Copeland, Patricia Bath, and Madam C.J. Walker are courageous African-American women who have overcome racial stereotypes because of their determination to pursue what they love; Misty Copeland’s determination led her to pursue dance, and Patricia Bath and Madam C.J. Walker were strong, African American entrepreneurs.

This Ted Talk discusses the challenges African Americans who have naturally curly hair experience. It discusses how society tells people with curly hair that straight hair is prettier, and the effects on cultural identity of African American women today. Many women go to the hair salon to straighten their hair (which causes damage), or put weaves or wigs in. Today, African American women will straighten their hair, in order to achieve a professional look. Dreadlocks, Afrocentric/Pro-Black and urban hairstyles are look down upon. Cochrane urges for this to change. Ursula Burns is the first African American female CEO of a Fortune 500 company -- of Xerox, and she is best known for her naturally curly Afro. Most women, such as Michelle Obama straighten

African Americans face a struggle with racism which has been present in our country before the Civil War began in 1861. America still faces racism today however, around the 1920’s the daily life of an African American slowly began to improve. Thus, this time period was known by many, as the “Negro Fad” (O’Neill). The quality of life and freedom of African Americans that lived in the United States was constantly evolving and never completely considered ‘equal’. From being enslaved, to fighting for their freedom, African Americans were greatly changing the status quo and beginning to make their mark in the United States. They have endured severe oppression and racism for many years and suffered under Jim Crow Laws as well which were created specifically

African Americans – The cultural transition from the 1970-1960 promoting African Americans literature, was also a musical and vocal movement for a culture coming of age after the liberation of slavery. The fierce anxiety of post-Civil War racism created a “voice” through artistic creativity, making a deliberate statement of the status of America through African American eyes. The timelines show artist telling a story of character and circumstance.

Ever since its birth in the 1970s in West Bronx, Hip Hop has been known as “Gangsta” music and most commonly associated with black culture. Since its creation it has become a fast growing genre of music and has growing fame all over the world. The popularity of it has increased to all races, age and gender. However the growing popularity of hip hop has come with several controversies among scholars. Some scholars argue that the growing popularity of the genre is very helpful to low income families who can use this as their outlet into going to Universities, on the other side some believe associating the genre to black culture is bad for the culture as a whole and they should not be associated together.

First of all, slaves used elements of medicine and magic from African cultures in their everyday lives by using them whenever they felt a fever coming on or the slaves would use it for protection. Many slaves used magic and medicine for prayer and their way of for healing; treat their illness from their body and soul. Medicine and magic were used when the slaves would get together and do spiritual rituals on their masters. They would also use it as healing power, most of them are leaves, roots and bark. When the slaves would use this remedy it would cause less physical and emotional stress. These elements were also used for healing baths and it controlled the head, body, and dreams. However, the slaves used these remedies to put inside of

When a majority of today's society envisions a young African American, they don't often associate such a person with the terms "successful", "prosperous" or even just "well off". Rather, black people have become a group that is mocked. The African diaspora are often referred to as "thugs", "uneducated" and "lazy". According to a 2015 News Week study, out of the 41% of those that choose higher education, black males make up 33.9% of that pool. Which is significantly higher than the 18% they previously held in 1988. Even more commendable, African American women are surpassing all other groups, despite race and gender when it comes to college enrollment, according to the web series, "Truths You Won't Believe". But why is it so hard to

Television has played an important role in history since it’s come into existence. The television has been a form of entertainment for all ages and is a valuable resource for advertising. As a result, television has become such an integral part of our everyday lifestyle that we wouldn’t know what to do without it. Over the years, television displayed and continues to popularize the presence of stereotypes perpetuating negative images of African Americans. However, after reading you will see the evolutions of how African Americans portrayal on television has transformed throughout the years. (Thesis Statement)

When I look around me I see people that are different shapes, sizes, and are different races, however what seems to be very interesting and unique about everyone is our hair. Our hair defines our personality that we carry into the community. Especially in the African-American culture our hair is considered ever changing, new, and trend setting. From the braids, to locs, perms, or just being natural, African-American women do not play about their hair. Though when we get our hair done it is a process and it takes time for our hair to look so good, we struggle with issues that come along with how are hair looks. If our hair doesn’t look a certain way we get teased or laughed at because it doesn’t meet the standards of how “African-American” hair

This is one of the most prominent aspects of slavery in today’s world, the word nigga/nigger was not used as a term of endearment as we all know but at some point in time it was used as a psychological weapon to make people of African descent actually prefer being referred to as a ‘nigga’ than an African American. This derogatory reference served to separate us from the strong pride

Throughout history many films and TV shows have had cultural impacts on the society we live in today. Not every show or film has a positive result, but a film I have recently watched that has had a huge cultural impact on our society is the film called “Straight Outta Compton”. “Straight Outta Compton” shed light on the struggles the African American community have been going through since the early 90’s, while helping promote black pride, and opening a new era of music. This movie mainly focuses on what was going on in the 90’s. While, many problems between cops and African Americans were happening, a newly formed music group N.W.A. and their music career had sky rocketed. This group expressed their music based on the struggles they were facing

Appropriation is the act of borrowing and changing the meaning of cultural products, images, slogans and elements as well as reusing existing elements to create new works and meanings. Many artists believe that in borrowing existing images or elements of imagery, they are able to recreate the idea as it is now placed within a new concept. This essay will discuss how appropriation has been used in cultural and social contexts in order to create controversy and sell products, as well as be a form of expression.

African aesthetic plays an intricate role in Caribbean fashion. It combines various colors, patterns, and fabrics which the Caribbean is known for. As a result, over the years Caribbean fashion relies heavily on African influences. Such influences are attributed by slavery, creolization and conformity. In the 17th century the first dress was the uniform of the estate afforded to those working and resident on plantation farms. Drab in appearance, three yards of either brown, grey or blue were worn as a wrap-around becoming a tunic with three holes catered for the head and arms. As a belt, a length of rope was tied around. To protect them from the harsh sun that ferociously beat down and for comfort, plantation slaves wore wide brimmed straw hats and a head scarf while the house slaves tied a piece of cloth around their heads. Over time inspired by their combined traditions, dress evolved into saris and