19th Century African American Culture Essay
During the 19th century, the use of Africans as slaves of the landowners was very common. These faced a long life, a lot of physical and emotional abuse and many times, the only way I had to free myself was the dance. African culture was used as a form of rebellion and relaxation, without leaving behind its cultural characteristics. The dance has always served for many reasons, whether cultural, power or as a form of rebellion and this time was not the exception. In the United States, the slave trade was very common. In the north of the United States and in the south, there were slightly different thoughts about slaves. In both places, Africans were used to work and serve, but during the 19th century northern Americans preferred to proclaim …show more content…
The Africans spent a lot of time working and being exploited and to relax and promote their culture, despite being out of their country, they used dance. The dance has long served to relax expressing itself and as a cultural form. Being out of your country, it is a little complicated to preserve the customs intact and more when two or three races are mixed. Keeping their dances helped the Africans to preserve their culture and to free themselves from the heavy days they had had. According to Thompson, "through creolization, enslaved people retained some native musical and dance traditions and invented or adopted new traditions that built community and even helped rebellion." (Thompson). Some of our actual custom are originated for African. Solomon Northup related in his book, “Carnival, although it follows the Catholic calendar and has many strong roots in European traditions, has been shaped by the infusion of African traditions that slaves and their descendants brought to them” (Northup). The term Carnival refers “generally to a wide range of festivities that are held in Europe and the Americas in the days before the Catholic observance of Lent. The music, instruments, themes, styles of singing and dance, traditions of masking, and many other discrete cultural elements show a link to an African past”
Research Paper On Alvin Ailey
1371 Words | 6 PagesIn particular, his form of modern dance provided a wide range of opportunity to take advantage of this form of communication because it is so open and free. Revelations is about the spiritual traditions of African American culture and the journey from slavery to freedom. Alvin Ailey used his choreography to share his life story with people. With his new take on dance, people began to realize that dance is more than just moving your body; it is used to express emotions, dreams and experiences. During the time this dance was choreographed, the African American population was experiencing great difficulty in breaking cultural barriers.
Frederick Douglass And The Abolition Movement Essay
252 Words | 2 PagesBeginning in the 17th century, European settlers began using African Americans laborers as a cheaper source of work. In southern American colonies, slavery spread like wildfire. African American slaves worked on tobacco, rice, cotton and indigo plantations. Most slave owners forbid their slaves from learning to read and write, and typically did not treat them humanly.
Slavery During The American Colonial Period
58 Words | 1 PagesDuring the American colonial period, slavery was legal and practiced in all the commercial nations of Europe. The practice of trading in and using African slaves was introduced to the United States by the colonial powers, and when the American colonies received their common law from the United Kingdom, the legality of slavery was part of that law.
African Americans In The Early 1800s
157 Words | 1 PagesDuring the early 1800’s, President Thomas Jefferson effectively doubled the size of the United States under the Louisiana Purchase. This set the way for Westward expansion, alongside an increase in industrialism and overall economic growth. In fact, many citizens were able to thrive and make a better living in the agricultural business than anywhere else. All seemed to be going well in this new and ever expanding country, except for one underlying issue; slavery. Many African Americans were treated as the lowest of the classes, even indistinguishable from livestock.
White Americans In The 1800s Essay
474 Words | 2 PagesIt is surprising that after all of the obstacles that were put in the way of those that were helping the slaves escape and the runaway slaves that such a high amount of people were actually able to escape enslavement and lead on better lives. Some historians believe that as many as 100,000 slaves escaped via Underground Railroad between the years of 1800 and 1865 alone. While this seems like an extremely high number, in the 1840’s there were over 4 million slaves living in the south. Of those that attempted to escape, a majority of them were caught and returned to their owners. Unfortunately, the number is constantly debated because there were no records that were kept by the slaves or by those helping the slaves during this time for fear
African American Social Customs Essay
439 Words | 2 PagesSocial customs have played a significant role in shaping the experiences of African Americans throughout history. From the customs of slavery to the customs of segregation and discrimination, African Americans have faced numerous challenges in their quest for equality. Fannie Lou Hamer's testimony before the Democratic National Convention's Credentials Committee in 1964 sheds light on some of these challenges, particularly those related to social customs. Hamer's testimony focused on the struggle of African Americans in Mississippi to exercise their right to vote. She described how African Americans were routinely denied the right to vote through a variety of customs and practices, including literacy tests, poll taxes, and intimidation.
Native American Religious Experience Essay
967 Words | 4 PagesHowever, the colonists believed this dance was the Natives’ way of preparation to attack them and took it as a threat (The Nineteenth Century, Unit 3, Lecture 11). The Natives realized that this problem and the turmoil that they Europeans had brought with them was not going to disappear and they surrendered and were converted to the religion they were so keen on learning from a
African American Voodoo Essay
853 Words | 4 PagesDuring the colonial period, the European colonizers tried to deprive the African people of their cultural identity by limiting the free spirituality of the enslaved people, thus enabling them to colonize these Africans more favorably. European colonizers tried to suppress African cultural practices and impose European cultural values and religion, "The code demanded that all slaves be baptized, receive instruction in the Catholic faith, attend Sunday Mass and confession, and renounce the practice of outlawed Vodou. "(Murrell 62) During the colonial period, slaves were required to study Catholicism, and they learned to continue to pursue their African religious practices.
New Orleans Influence On American Culture
219 Words | 1 PagesThis coupled with the ethnic diversity, allowed for innovations like the habanera rhythm to be born. Three, strong dance traditions were kept alive, as seen at Congo Square. Dancing was the cheapest, most feasible form
Colorism In African Americans Essay
1384 Words | 6 PagesThe Fight Against Colorism in African American Communities Colorism is defined as a practice of discrimination among African Americans against other African Americans because of their skin complexion, for instance being too light or too dark. Colorism plays a large role in the low self-esteem in the African American community, from individuals, relationships, and employment. Colorism can cause psychological effects. Children are more affected because skin biased develops at a younger age.
African Americans In The 1920 Summary
1253 Words | 6 PagesThe lecture on African Americans in the 1920s by Professor David Canton is very disturbing. His lecture was on the different unjust treatment that African Americans endured. The professor, to me, was trying to make the listener feel the anguish that African Americans did in the 1920s. In some sense he appeared passionate and at times angry about the treatment of African Americans. The government supported this hostile treatment because they believed African Americans were being subversive if they stood up and defended themselves.
Ghost Dance Analysis
518 Words | 3 PagesThe government, later, banned the dance. They were scared of the dance, but the Native Americans were just very unhappy. This is very sad turn of events for the Indians. They’re last ray of hope is token
Narrative Essay On African American Culture
651 Words | 3 PagesI am an African American female whom is a descendent from the African Slave and a native American refugee. My culture runs deep in my veins and I am a product of the strength of my mother and father. While growing up I understood we were on the poverty line. My family lived in a small home with 3 bedrooms and occupied 7 people. I grew up in a small southeast Georgian town named Statesboro.
Marc Bamuthi Joseph's Molly Dance Analysis
258 Words | 2 PagesIn Marc Bamuthi Joseph’s “Molly” performance, I noticed that he performed it to a rhythm that is very unique to African culture. Many of the instruments that were played in conjunction with his performance in order to enhance his performance were instruments that are very popular in African culture. Joseph’s imitation of the African dances that he witness, prior to Molly asking him to distract the dancers they encountered, was very similar to the original dances that African’s would perform. Prior to being assimilated into American culture, many of the slaves of the past would dance like this at African religious ceremonies. However, these dances became more modified the longer Africans remained in America.
Amandla !: A Revolution In Four-Part Harmony
933 Words | 4 PagesThey were tired and realized all they could do was sing and dance to express what they felt. The energy is what creates those emotions and make them continue no matter what difficulty they
More about 19th Century African American Culture Essay
Research Paper On Alvin Ailey
1371 Words | 6 PagesFrederick Douglass And The Abolition Movement Essay
252 Words | 2 PagesSlavery During The American Colonial Period
58 Words | 1 PagesAfrican Americans In The Early 1800s
157 Words | 1 PagesWhite Americans In The 1800s Essay
474 Words | 2 PagesAfrican American Social Customs Essay
439 Words | 2 PagesNative American Religious Experience Essay
967 Words | 4 PagesAfrican American Voodoo Essay
853 Words | 4 PagesNew Orleans Influence On American Culture
219 Words | 1 PagesColorism In African Americans Essay
1384 Words | 6 PagesAfrican Americans In The 1920 Summary
1253 Words | 6 PagesGhost Dance Analysis
518 Words | 3 PagesNarrative Essay On African American Culture
651 Words | 3 PagesMarc Bamuthi Joseph's Molly Dance Analysis
258 Words | 2 PagesAmandla !: A Revolution In Four-Part Harmony
933 Words | 4 Pages