African-American Culture.
There is no doubt today that African-American culture has one of the biggest influences in the U.S. to date. Such influences have made their mark in all aspects of life from music, fashion, food, and everything in between. The individuals that have paved the way for all African-Americans today to express themselves at a higher degree had to endure major obstacles that even lead some to their deaths. The sacrifices made in the past by well-known, even the not-so well-known, African-Americans have allowed the outsiders, or non-African-Americans, to see exactly what they have to offer. What has been presented by the African-American culture has changed the way many, non-African-Americans and even African-Americans, experience life and at the same time bringing more variety to the things we hold dearly.
Collard Greens, Cornbread, and Sweet Potato Pie
Prior to laws that gave equal rights to African-Americans they were slaves to European immigrants that used African-Americans for chores and tasks they preferred not to perform. Such daily chores included chopping wood for fire, washing drying clothes, cleaning the house, babysitting their children, and of course cooking their daily meals. When native Africans were kidnapped and taken from their native lands so too were several crop seeds native to Africa. Such seeds and foods introduced to America, from their native Africa, include black-eyed peas, okra, sweet sorghum, and watermelon (Harrell). When prepared by this food was alive with flavor and prepared with the love, patience, and care which earned the style of cuisine its nickname, soul food. No measuring cups or metrics used, all was done by simply feeling or knowing when something being prepared has enough of an ingredient. African-American slave women usually prepared the meals for their slave masters and prepared them in huge portions purposefully so that there would be enough leftovers for themselves and their families who usually resided in rundown shacks not far from their slave masters home. Inside of those shacks is where some of the more interesting dishes and food combinations were created. Using the leftovers, from their slave masters meals and uneaten animal parts the slave masters had no interest in eating, the women prepared foods that looked somewhat messy but tastes amazing.
A plate of soul food containing ribs, collard greens, sweet potatoes, chitterlings, and hush puppies (Courtesy of Grow Bloomington)
Slaves barely had enough to eat so any food or animal parts from slaughter were not wasted. Parts like ham-hocks (calf portion of leg), neck bones, pigs-feet, and chitterlings (pig intestines) were prepared for meals in delicious form. Today many of these creations are still eaten in African-American families, big soul food meals are usually served on Sundays and eaten with families who hold strong to their traditions.
Holla At Me Black Culture Lingo
During the slavery era African-Americans had to dress and learn how to talk around their slave masters, but when they had some off time between tasks they had their own language and lingo that their slave masters could not decipher. By using this unique form of language they pretty much got away with using such terms as uncle tom or cracker which were derogatory words for their slave masters whom treated them inhumanely. Today the lingo has become more abundant with words and even has a name, ebonics or slang. Slang consists of words, or modified words, that already exist with meanings and are given new meanings.
Some examples
AIGHT (ah-eye-tuh) Short for alright (Mr. Wiggles)
BUGGIN Acting silly (Mr. Wiggles)
BUSTA a person who isnt authentic, or fake (Mr. Wiggles)
CHILIN relaxing or winding down
CHEESECHEDDAR money, cash (Mr. Wiggles)
HOLLA AT ME talk to me later, lets talk
CRIB a persons home (Mr. Wiggles)
DIS short for disrespect (Mr. Wiggles)
CRACKIN something totally cool, sensational or excellent (Urban Dictionary)
BAD dope, good, tight (Urban Dictionary)
TIGHT stylish, cool, having everything together (Urban Dictionary)
Slang is one of the bigger influences from the African-American culture and everywhere you go you will hear races using African-American slang as its influence transcended beyond normal everyday conversation. Slang continues to receive a breath of life because it has found a home to launch newer words and stay trendy all from the African-American music culture.
Rock, Jazz, Blues and Hip-Hop
Slaves had to endure severe brutality and inhumane treatment at the hands of their slave masters. Some took a stand, some fought back, and a collection of others plotted to escape the world. Slang words were used to disguise their plans preventing them from being obvious to their slave masters. One highly known way slaves communicated their plans of escape was through singing. Such known songs as Follow the Drinking Gourd, Steal Away, The Gospel Trains a Comin, Wade in the Water (Sound) were among songs that contain hidden messages to help slaves escape captivity. Wade in the Water (Sound) was sung by Harriet Tubman who helped a large number of slave escape captivity by communicating the messages from this song.
Pictured Harriet Tubman (Courtesy of osblackhistory.com)
ChorusWade in the water,Wade in the water children.Wade in the waterGods gonna trouble the waterWhos all those children all dressed in RedGods gonna trouble the water.Must be the ones that Moses led.Gods gonna trouble the water.ChorusWhat are those children all dressed in WhiteGods gonna trouble the water.Must be the ones of the Israelites.Gods gonna trouble the water.ChorusWho are these children all dressed in BlueGods gonna trouble the water.Must be the ones that made it through.Gods gonna trouble the water.Chorus
(Song provided by osblackhistory.com)
These songs often had a sound best described as sad, depressed, yet with a hint of hope. Slave songs didnt have too much happiness in its sound and plight was felt through every word. These slave songs gave birth to a form of music often associated with the woes and difficulties of the singer, collection of singers or individual(s) related to the song. This form of music became to be known as blues. Blues music is often comprised of live instruments. The saxophone, guitar, French horn, and other instruments not played too heavily as to throw off the mood or feel. Blues is naturally soulful as its smooth sounds calm the spirits and relate to the listener no matter what race one is from.
Pictured Robert Johnson - Bluseman and father of Rock and Roll
Important Blues Artists
Big names in blues include the likes of Billie Holiday, Howlin Wolf, Besssie Smith, BB King, Big Joe Turner, all of whom revolutionized how music is created today. Robert Johnson is a special name in music for not only is he considered the king of delta blues he is also known as the father of rock and roll. Today rock and roll is usually associated with the devil, satanic content and occult themes and according to a documentary called They Sold Their Souls for Rock n Roll (Schimmel, 2004) Robert Johnson sold his soul for great guitar skills and fame and can be proven in many songs he wrote such as Hellhound is on my Trail, and Me and the Devil Blues. Such songs have indeed influenced the world of rock and roll today with non-African-American artists including
Marilyn Manson
Bob Dylan
ACDC
Led Zeppelin
and many others who were influenced by Robert Johnsons story and music. His wide-ranging influence often leads to his attribution of being the father of rock and roll.
Rock, Jazz, Blues and Hip-Hop Part 2
There is no doubt music has had the biggest influence on outsiders of the African-American culture. A lot of the music heard today has a connection to the blues songs sung by African slaves in captivity or the blues artists that brought crowds to its performances. Jazz is sort of like a spin-off to the blues genre with a bit more of a festive sound. Unlike blues with its sounds of woe and pain contained in the lyrics, jazz lightens the mood while still maintaining its smooth harsh free sound like its counterpart. Recognizable names in this genre are Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Lester Bowie, Tommy Dorsey, and, Ella Fitzgerald.
Pictured Miles Davis
Pictured Ella Fitzgerald
Jazz
Jazz today has become more popular than its blues ancestor but both becoming more diverse in style and even the ethnic backgrounds. Blues however has incorporated some jazz elements into its style which gave birth to a new popular genre called Rhythm Blues or more commonly known as RB. RB today is the 2nd most popular genre of African-American music with its diverse sounds and styles all containing the essence of jazz and blues with some additional elements of other music genres.
Pictured Mary J. Blige. Many consider Mary as the queen of Hip-Hop and RB.
Michael Jackson, although a pop icon, normally performs songs in the RB format and had great influences from past artists of the same genre. Other highly known RB artists include Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Pattie LaBelle, Luther Vandross, Al Green, Teddy Pendergrass, and so many more.
Pictured Aretha Franklin (left), Teddy Pendergrass (right)
Origins of Rap and Hip-hop
Another genre of music that surfaced from the African-American culture has to be the most influential around the world today. Rap music surfaced in the late 70s early 80s with its rhythmic beats and lyrics with poetic rhymes. Rap didnt incorporate the softer melodic instrumentals of jazz and blues until the late 80s, prior to that it was all festive, strong beats accompanied with rhymes similar to that of poems or those you would find in a Dr. Seuss book. Pioneers of this genre are the likes of The Sugar Hill Gang, Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five, KRS-One Eric B Rakim and a continuing list of great rap icons. While much of this music was almost childlike in its presentation, out of it grew theories of Afrocentricity, popularized by Afrikka Bombataa, that greatly influenced the next wave of hip-hop and led to a harder, more politicized and more violent edge to the music.
Pictured Eric B. Rakim (left picture) The Sugar Hill Gang (right picture)
Gangsta Rap
In the early 90s rap became a bit more violent with west coast rap surfacing. Groups like N.W.A. (Niggas With Attitude) wrote songs with hard and harsh beats and lyrics containing anti-government, rebellion style messages that brought controversy to the scene. While some may say this was the African-American culture venting from their past tribulations involving slavery and segregation others feel that this style of rap music is giving all African-Americans the labels that are contained in gangsta rap lyrics. This form of music has indeed caused some problems in the African-American culture with much stereotyping among those on the outside and influence by youths that see how successful these artists have become and believe they can achieve the same success through what is contained in gangsta rap lyrics. There are several key elements that many contemporary hip-hop artists incorporate into their style and music
DJs and mixtapes, first popularized in the early days of hip-hop
Breakdancing, now includes other similar dance styles such as stepping and krumping
The MC also the singer andor rapper Graffiti this was a more important element in the early days of hip-hop
Pictured N.W.A.
Today nearly all genres of black music have been incorporated under one umbrella genre called Hip-Hop. Most of its influence has influenced positively and some negatively. Nonetheless it all has had origins pointing directly to the African-American culture. African-Americans have without a doubt left their mark and came a long way. From the days of slavery to currently having the first African-American president ever in the United States, none of it would have been possible without the culture inbetween. Blacks have earned a major place in the world today for its contributions and gifts turning lemons into lemonade. That is what is called Black Power.
Collard Greens, Cornbread, and Sweet Potato Pie
Prior to laws that gave equal rights to African-Americans they were slaves to European immigrants that used African-Americans for chores and tasks they preferred not to perform. Such daily chores included chopping wood for fire, washing drying clothes, cleaning the house, babysitting their children, and of course cooking their daily meals. When native Africans were kidnapped and taken from their native lands so too were several crop seeds native to Africa. Such seeds and foods introduced to America, from their native Africa, include black-eyed peas, okra, sweet sorghum, and watermelon (Harrell). When prepared by this food was alive with flavor and prepared with the love, patience, and care which earned the style of cuisine its nickname, soul food. No measuring cups or metrics used, all was done by simply feeling or knowing when something being prepared has enough of an ingredient. African-American slave women usually prepared the meals for their slave masters and prepared them in huge portions purposefully so that there would be enough leftovers for themselves and their families who usually resided in rundown shacks not far from their slave masters home. Inside of those shacks is where some of the more interesting dishes and food combinations were created. Using the leftovers, from their slave masters meals and uneaten animal parts the slave masters had no interest in eating, the women prepared foods that looked somewhat messy but tastes amazing.
A plate of soul food containing ribs, collard greens, sweet potatoes, chitterlings, and hush puppies (Courtesy of Grow Bloomington)
Slaves barely had enough to eat so any food or animal parts from slaughter were not wasted. Parts like ham-hocks (calf portion of leg), neck bones, pigs-feet, and chitterlings (pig intestines) were prepared for meals in delicious form. Today many of these creations are still eaten in African-American families, big soul food meals are usually served on Sundays and eaten with families who hold strong to their traditions.
Holla At Me Black Culture Lingo
During the slavery era African-Americans had to dress and learn how to talk around their slave masters, but when they had some off time between tasks they had their own language and lingo that their slave masters could not decipher. By using this unique form of language they pretty much got away with using such terms as uncle tom or cracker which were derogatory words for their slave masters whom treated them inhumanely. Today the lingo has become more abundant with words and even has a name, ebonics or slang. Slang consists of words, or modified words, that already exist with meanings and are given new meanings.
Some examples
AIGHT (ah-eye-tuh) Short for alright (Mr. Wiggles)
BUGGIN Acting silly (Mr. Wiggles)
BUSTA a person who isnt authentic, or fake (Mr. Wiggles)
CHILIN relaxing or winding down
CHEESECHEDDAR money, cash (Mr. Wiggles)
HOLLA AT ME talk to me later, lets talk
CRIB a persons home (Mr. Wiggles)
DIS short for disrespect (Mr. Wiggles)
CRACKIN something totally cool, sensational or excellent (Urban Dictionary)
BAD dope, good, tight (Urban Dictionary)
TIGHT stylish, cool, having everything together (Urban Dictionary)
Slang is one of the bigger influences from the African-American culture and everywhere you go you will hear races using African-American slang as its influence transcended beyond normal everyday conversation. Slang continues to receive a breath of life because it has found a home to launch newer words and stay trendy all from the African-American music culture.
Rock, Jazz, Blues and Hip-Hop
Slaves had to endure severe brutality and inhumane treatment at the hands of their slave masters. Some took a stand, some fought back, and a collection of others plotted to escape the world. Slang words were used to disguise their plans preventing them from being obvious to their slave masters. One highly known way slaves communicated their plans of escape was through singing. Such known songs as Follow the Drinking Gourd, Steal Away, The Gospel Trains a Comin, Wade in the Water (Sound) were among songs that contain hidden messages to help slaves escape captivity. Wade in the Water (Sound) was sung by Harriet Tubman who helped a large number of slave escape captivity by communicating the messages from this song.
Pictured Harriet Tubman (Courtesy of osblackhistory.com)
ChorusWade in the water,Wade in the water children.Wade in the waterGods gonna trouble the waterWhos all those children all dressed in RedGods gonna trouble the water.Must be the ones that Moses led.Gods gonna trouble the water.ChorusWhat are those children all dressed in WhiteGods gonna trouble the water.Must be the ones of the Israelites.Gods gonna trouble the water.ChorusWho are these children all dressed in BlueGods gonna trouble the water.Must be the ones that made it through.Gods gonna trouble the water.Chorus
(Song provided by osblackhistory.com)
These songs often had a sound best described as sad, depressed, yet with a hint of hope. Slave songs didnt have too much happiness in its sound and plight was felt through every word. These slave songs gave birth to a form of music often associated with the woes and difficulties of the singer, collection of singers or individual(s) related to the song. This form of music became to be known as blues. Blues music is often comprised of live instruments. The saxophone, guitar, French horn, and other instruments not played too heavily as to throw off the mood or feel. Blues is naturally soulful as its smooth sounds calm the spirits and relate to the listener no matter what race one is from.
Pictured Robert Johnson - Bluseman and father of Rock and Roll
Important Blues Artists
Big names in blues include the likes of Billie Holiday, Howlin Wolf, Besssie Smith, BB King, Big Joe Turner, all of whom revolutionized how music is created today. Robert Johnson is a special name in music for not only is he considered the king of delta blues he is also known as the father of rock and roll. Today rock and roll is usually associated with the devil, satanic content and occult themes and according to a documentary called They Sold Their Souls for Rock n Roll (Schimmel, 2004) Robert Johnson sold his soul for great guitar skills and fame and can be proven in many songs he wrote such as Hellhound is on my Trail, and Me and the Devil Blues. Such songs have indeed influenced the world of rock and roll today with non-African-American artists including
Marilyn Manson
Bob Dylan
ACDC
Led Zeppelin
and many others who were influenced by Robert Johnsons story and music. His wide-ranging influence often leads to his attribution of being the father of rock and roll.
Rock, Jazz, Blues and Hip-Hop Part 2
There is no doubt music has had the biggest influence on outsiders of the African-American culture. A lot of the music heard today has a connection to the blues songs sung by African slaves in captivity or the blues artists that brought crowds to its performances. Jazz is sort of like a spin-off to the blues genre with a bit more of a festive sound. Unlike blues with its sounds of woe and pain contained in the lyrics, jazz lightens the mood while still maintaining its smooth harsh free sound like its counterpart. Recognizable names in this genre are Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Lester Bowie, Tommy Dorsey, and, Ella Fitzgerald.
Pictured Miles Davis
Pictured Ella Fitzgerald
Jazz
Jazz today has become more popular than its blues ancestor but both becoming more diverse in style and even the ethnic backgrounds. Blues however has incorporated some jazz elements into its style which gave birth to a new popular genre called Rhythm Blues or more commonly known as RB. RB today is the 2nd most popular genre of African-American music with its diverse sounds and styles all containing the essence of jazz and blues with some additional elements of other music genres.
Pictured Mary J. Blige. Many consider Mary as the queen of Hip-Hop and RB.
Michael Jackson, although a pop icon, normally performs songs in the RB format and had great influences from past artists of the same genre. Other highly known RB artists include Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Pattie LaBelle, Luther Vandross, Al Green, Teddy Pendergrass, and so many more.
Pictured Aretha Franklin (left), Teddy Pendergrass (right)
Origins of Rap and Hip-hop
Another genre of music that surfaced from the African-American culture has to be the most influential around the world today. Rap music surfaced in the late 70s early 80s with its rhythmic beats and lyrics with poetic rhymes. Rap didnt incorporate the softer melodic instrumentals of jazz and blues until the late 80s, prior to that it was all festive, strong beats accompanied with rhymes similar to that of poems or those you would find in a Dr. Seuss book. Pioneers of this genre are the likes of The Sugar Hill Gang, Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five, KRS-One Eric B Rakim and a continuing list of great rap icons. While much of this music was almost childlike in its presentation, out of it grew theories of Afrocentricity, popularized by Afrikka Bombataa, that greatly influenced the next wave of hip-hop and led to a harder, more politicized and more violent edge to the music.
Pictured Eric B. Rakim (left picture) The Sugar Hill Gang (right picture)
Gangsta Rap
In the early 90s rap became a bit more violent with west coast rap surfacing. Groups like N.W.A. (Niggas With Attitude) wrote songs with hard and harsh beats and lyrics containing anti-government, rebellion style messages that brought controversy to the scene. While some may say this was the African-American culture venting from their past tribulations involving slavery and segregation others feel that this style of rap music is giving all African-Americans the labels that are contained in gangsta rap lyrics. This form of music has indeed caused some problems in the African-American culture with much stereotyping among those on the outside and influence by youths that see how successful these artists have become and believe they can achieve the same success through what is contained in gangsta rap lyrics. There are several key elements that many contemporary hip-hop artists incorporate into their style and music
DJs and mixtapes, first popularized in the early days of hip-hop
Breakdancing, now includes other similar dance styles such as stepping and krumping
The MC also the singer andor rapper Graffiti this was a more important element in the early days of hip-hop
Pictured N.W.A.
Today nearly all genres of black music have been incorporated under one umbrella genre called Hip-Hop. Most of its influence has influenced positively and some negatively. Nonetheless it all has had origins pointing directly to the African-American culture. African-Americans have without a doubt left their mark and came a long way. From the days of slavery to currently having the first African-American president ever in the United States, none of it would have been possible without the culture inbetween. Blacks have earned a major place in the world today for its contributions and gifts turning lemons into lemonade. That is what is called Black Power.
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