AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE

African-American Culture



Abstract

In this paper, we try to focus on the African-American Culture. The paper gives the brief perspective of the African American Culture. In this study we try to explore the concept of African American Culture in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on African American Culture and its relation with ethnic group. The research also analyzes many aspects of African American Culture and tries to gauge its effect. Finally the research concludes.

African-American Culture

Introduction

The African-American culture in the world emerged as a very popular culture. This culture is a mix of American and African study. In this paper we study the articles on African American culture and make study on its behalf. The article discusses the music and role of women in African American culture. While rooted in minstrel traditions, that is, racist images of blacks created by whites, the pimp was a product of a cultural shift in which blacks became active participants in creating these images. In fact, by the late 1980s, the pop culture pimp maintained much of his stereotypical identity and was perpetuated proudly by black creators through rap music. Discussion

The global influence of rap music further catapulted the word 'pimp' to a colloquial popular culture reference. This study explores the factors that contributed to the emergence and popularity of the black pimp image, particularly in film and literature around 1970. An in-depth analysis of prominent pop culture pimps featured in two popular books: Pimp: The Story of My Life by Iceberg Slim (1969) and Whoreson by Donald Goines (1971); and three movies: The Mack (1973), Willie Dynamite (1974), and Candy Tangerine Man (1975) present the historical evolution, profile and influence of the pimp image.

It concludes that despite the abuse of black women and criminal intent of the pimp, black audiences celebrated the illusion of victory over white oppression that the pimp projected. Ironically, rappers who were profitable music-business commodities adopted the pimp image in the 1980s within a white-owned pop culture institution that encouraged black artists to project the immoral pimp persona for the same reason.

Another way in which the African American slaves integrated their African traditional culture into their new American lives was through the use of architecture. While excavating in Yaughan and Curriboo archaeologists found that the houses in which slaves lived did not resemble the at the time popular log cabins, or nineteenth century colonial houses, they discovered African-style houses with thatched roofs and walls made of clay. African Americans used a building technique known as “cob walling”, a technique which is very common in West Africa. Cob walling involved taking lumps of clay and laying them atop one another like bricks. “African American houses appear to have evolved from African-style structures to houses with some European features: nevertheless dwellings continued to be small with most activities taking place in the yard—distinctive West African traits”.

Contrary to statistics and stereotypical messages, education is valued within the African American community, especially among African American women who have ...