Practice of Marriage and Family Therapy in African Americans

Practice of Marriage and Family Therapy in African Americans

Introduction

African American families are assorted with diverse variations in competent practices while they also share some common experiences. The roots of African American families are also spread in diversified directions, and the history of their culture is also created with diversity. At the same time, the African American families are living in a society that follows the principles of racism, and this has forced them to face legal challenges including discrimination, domination and repression. The main reason of existing diversity in African American family and marriage culture is due to the disparity in their roots. Most of the African American families living in America have their roots in the areas of West Africa; some of them are also the blood relative and descendants of slaves who resided in West Indies and Caribbean. In addition to the diversity in roots and culture, there is diversification in the ancestral practice in the United States which prevailed during the reign of slavery and even after that (Belgrave & Allison, 2009).

Discussion

Diversity of cultural values that exist within African American families generally follows an Afrocentric approach (Aymer, 2012). Afrocentric approach was evolved for the first time during the period of the twentieth century. Jerome H. Schiele (2009) has described this Afrocentric approach on the basis of three critical assumptions; “Individual identity is conceived as a collective identity, spiritual aspects of humans is just as legitimate as the material component and an effective approach to knowledge are epistemologically valid”. The first two of the above stated assumptions given by Jerome are highly relevant in working with African American families. Individual identity and the material component are the main components of Eurocentric cultures. Individual identity without any doubts has a direct link with the family, community and cultural values. Within African American families, the individuals also follow sound spiritual connections with each other and others living around them.

History of African Americans

Most of the African American are originally the descendants of the one, and only non-native Americans who did not migrate on their own will, there entrance in United States was by force and the reason to bring them is US was to be treated like slaves. The history of African American families who had been part of the slavery period is a very predominant issue under discussion in their family cultures. This aspect accounts for importance when it comes to working with any African American family. Most of the African American Slaves who were bought to US belonged to West Africa, and among them there was a vast diversification in the cultures they follow and the languages they speak. The individuals also belonged to various different tribes following different cultures (Belgrave & Allison, 2009). In addition to this many of the African American families who were called to be the true descendants of the ex-slaves who lives in West Indies and Caribbean had developed their own rich culture with new diversification in ...