I 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. You may know of Statesboro if you listen to the Blues. A famous blues man by the name of Blind Willie Mctell wrote a song called Statesboro blues about his beloved home town. Statesboro is a small town where the color lines are divided. Although things have changed along the years, some tension still exist. My microsystem while growing up was my family and friends in my neighborhood in school. Microsystem is a part of …show more content…
Usually in African American communities you hear a wise saying “it takes a village to raise a child” and that that is exactly how it was. My friends and I were always watched by older neighbors around us. We knew to respect them and also knew they had our best interest. The candy lady down the street always gave us free treats if we brought her good grades on report card day. Although we may not have had a lot we had love. Looking from a child to an adult I now understand why the adults in the neighborhood watched over everyone. It taught me a that there is strength in numbers and love conquers all. Growing up the fourth girl of five kids wasn’t tough or awkward for me. I am the baby girl, therefore I got away with a lot. I learned early on I was different, but could not comprehend whether it was in a good/bad way as a child. Growing into the woman I am today I’ve learned that I am African American and very proud it. I also learned what comes with the title African American as well. Awareness of my culture started becoming apparent as well as the up and downs of being African
Many years ago a significant amount of black people died being a slave and many also struggled till freedom. Blacks battled for countless of years being seen as nothing. Being a slave means not having a voice, having no freedom and being seen as just property. When someone is a slave they have no input into anything.
In the past weeks, writings by anthropologists and sociologists integrate two realms of black middle-class life that influence the decisions and prospects of black youths today-socioeconomic and cultural. Wilson (1996), on the one hand, hypothesizes a potential relationship between neighborhood-level socioeconomic status and individual-level perceptions of efficacy. Valentine and Lewis, on the other, demonstrate the idea that culture of poverty exists both as a self-perpetuating way of life that is “passed down from generation to generation along family
The recently freed African Americans plead to receive citizenship and equal rights, they expected to be treated as any other human being. After many years of slavery, the African Americans were finally freed from slavery by president Lincoln. Many of them were granted freedom for serving loyally in the Union army, along with certain rights, such as the right to buy land. The freed slaves were then allowed to purchase land, and received help from the government in the form of establishments such as Freedman’s Bureau and Freedmen’s Aid Society. The former slaves were now allowed to attend certain churches, schools, and were also allowed to socialize in public, although only in certain places.
What does it mean to be African American? A question almost always asked to the African American population. Due to our history we’ve always had to prove a point or defend ourselves to others whom do not understand the position that was forced upon us. In present society African Americans have struggles just for being a certain ethnicity that we can not control. Therefore, what does it mean to be an African in America?
On the other hand, African Americans, are now twenty times as likely to live in poor community. A large number of African American families, coming from the underprivilaged quarter of comminity an ages ago, continue to live in such community today. Although, for African african families moving out of such community is much more difficult for them. But only a small number of white families who lived in the poor quarter of community an ages ago still do so. This is a clear example of how race can be related to social
Narrative During the summer of 2016, my trip to Pemba, Mozambique in Africa changed my life drastically. Not only changed my life because I was on a mission trip, but changed my life looking at through the eyes of race. While I was there I would listen to great speakers, go on outreaches to other villages, pray for people, hangout with other missionaries, and hangout with the kids on the base and just have a good time. While the time hanging out with the native kids there on the base, I would get asked to buy their necklaces they made or give them food or water.
Interview Questions for African American Families Please find a person of African American descent to interview. The person needs to at least 21 years of age. Please inform the person that this interview is for an assignment in class (educational purposes only) and the information provided will remain confidential. Please try to obtain more than “sound bites” yes/no answers. Asked follow up questions if the interviewee’s answers are too brief (ex: Can you please provide an example or elaborate, tell me more etc..).
The 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.
Great observation, I agree the old African American folk culture, literature and spirituals has been adopted by American culture. In the past, the African slave’s song old slave songs to give them hope for freedom and past the time. In my discussion, I mention black cultures evolve over their cultural traditions are still relevant in today’s culture. The most expressive form of expression of African Americans were threw their music and they wrote thousands of slave songs to get them through the hot summer months in the tobacco fields. Furthermore, great job of incorporating in your discussion that American culture sings is a huge way of expressing their feelings in church as I mention in my discussion.
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.
As children grow up they believe it is their parents who help guide into the person he or she are supposed to be. However, those children need to realize it is not just the parents. It is also their neighborhood who has helped too. Growing up in a small knit community has partly shaped me into a mature, hardworking, dedicated young woman. Because my neighborhood always had people who were older than me quickened me to mature.
The culture that I have chosen to do my bibliography on is the African American culture. The books that I’ve selected are all well-written, eye-opening stories about the culture and hardships faced by African Americans as well as their incredible spirits. Some were written based on the author’s memories of grandparents or stories about their ancestors, while others are fictions representations of factual people, places, and events that all reflect the culture and history of African Americans. I chose this culture because I feel that it is very close and personal to all Americans. America today is still shaped by the history, culture, and mistreatment of this group of people and these books are a great way to teach kids about the atrocities
MY EXPERIENCE AS AN AFRICAN IN AMERICA Arriving in the US three months ago I honestly thought it would be easy to introduce myself as African and be understood and accepted. I said to myself "they are black just like you so what is the worse that could happen?" But the experiences I have had so far have made me realize that life in the US is not all that it is made out to be. I always assumed that black to black racism did not exist but to my utmost shock, it does exist. I realize now that it goes beyond being a part of the same race.
I was raised in a traditional Southern Black Baptist family with roots deeply planted in the South. With origins in Elgin, Texas ad Gloster Mississippi they are well acquainted with poverty and hard work. I was raised in a strict upbringing, there 's a certain way a lady acts, how she treats her elders, and how she behaves. My mom has a challenging job,as a
I had first heard about Achebe a few years back while doing a report on African American culture, but I never thought I would read any of his work myself. When I saw the book for myself I was surprised that a well-known novel like that could be so short in length. As I started reading the story of Okonkwo, an Igbo warrior in West Africa who is a hero amongst his village, I was shocked at the differences between pre-colonial Africa and the world today. Okonkwo’s people are farmers, their way of life is greatly influenced by their past ancestors and is a democratic-like society.