GUIDING DIRECTION:
THE POWER OF CULTURE Culture is a dominating force and must be a way of life for African Americans if we are to survive. // Louis Walee
O
ne facet of human civilization
hopes of helping light candles for the next
came from the racial discrimination and
that has continued to evolve
generation to follow, to further spread the
exclusion of African Americans by Europe-
and manifest itself in different
flames.
an Americans. Also, it was by a tenacious
shapes is culture.
A Way of Life
I’ve been impassioned by culture,
persistence amongst African Americans to
because it’s precious. The purpose of this
create and maintain traditions amongst
article is to accomplish several things:
themselves.
Culture is many things. According to Texas
To give adequate definitions of culture,
A&M University, it is a collective sum of
to explain African American culture, to
rooted in the western and central African
knowledge, beliefs, experiences, meaning,
show how African Americans have retained
cultures of my enslaved ancestors. As a re-
motives, attitudes, symbols and values
elements of traditional African culture, and
sult of acts of terrorism in the forms of the
of a particular group of people. Culture is
to illustrate the significance of culture to
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and the system-
expansive, as it embodies notions of time
African Americans.
atic institution of slavery in the Ameri-
(world view), heritage, spirituality, religion,
Black culture is anthropologically
can South, many of the original cultural
African American Culture
roles and relationships (praxis), the nature of being (ontology), and seeks to under-
African American culture, is a distinct cul-
stand the origins of the universe (cosmol-
tural identity that was primarily shaped by
ogy).
traditions of my ancestors were forcibly removed. The impact of this has left some Afri-
the historic experience of the Middle Pas-
can Americans (and non African Americans
Culture is communication, and com-
sage (the sea voyage in which enslaved Af-
alike) to question if African Americans have
munication is culture. How people within
ricans were transported to the New World).
a culture to call their own. It has left some
a particular group of people exchange
African American culture is intrinsically
African Americans to adopt other cultures
information that is learned from one anoth-
unique and different from (mainstream)
as their own, some to create (individual)
er and transmitted among one another is
American culture, yet it is largely influen-
culturalisms, and/or some to hold so-
culture. Essentially, culture is a way of life.
tial on American culture. The dominance of
cio-political constructs and identity in the
It is tradition that is passed down from one
African American culture is felt not just by
place of culture.
generation to the next and is continuously
American culture, but by world culture as
passed down throughout time.
well.
Culture is extremely significant. It is
Cultural traditions have blossomed in
Still many beliefs, practices and values were retained and are practiced by African Americans. These include the following
invaluable. There is not a people who walk
distinctive forms of art (poetry, quilting,
this earth who are without a culture to call
painting), dance (Tap Dancing, Electric
their own. It is a beacon of familiarity and
Slide, Break-Dancing), cuisine (Soul Food)
recognition that advances and empowers a
language (Ebonics, Gullah), literature
Many African cultures transmit their
people. It is a guiding direction that allows
(Langston Hughes, Toni Morrison, Olaudah
cultures down orally from generation to
for cohesive purpose amongst a people. It
Equiano), music (Hip-Hop, Rap) and reli-
generation as a means to preserve the
nurtures, shelters, and produces flames
gion (Christians, Muslims, Jews and tradi-
culture and pass it down to the next. African
symbolized by the youth who’ll undoubt-
tional practitioners). Much of the distinctive
Americans have retained this characteris-
edly toil hard in the face of adversity in
development of African American culture
tic through the art of rap and storytelling.
15 VINDICATOR | MARCH 2017
elements:
Orality