Africans and Black Americans
Is it more important for black Americans to learn about African societies than people who aren't black, or should American blacks think of themselves as totally separate from African people? What could African cultures teach us?
African culture include all cultures which were ever in the continent of Africa. It shouldn't matter if other ethnic groups such as, Asian, Caucasian, Hispanic, etc to learn more about African societies. We are all human and equal, therefore we should know about any culture to our desires. African Amercian should know about African societies because we are from African descent and we should know our background and history of who we are. Most African Americans don't know who they are and where they come from. Africans had much pain and suffering because of slavery. In today times, Africans deal with AIDS and HIV, poverty, etc. Because of this, other races and African Americans themselves are afraid or ashamed of Africans because they believe they are dirty, poor, no high standard, etc. People are afraid to research and know more about African culture. Africans are very intelligent and have high standards for themselves to help their country or be better than their parents were.
ReplyDeleteI feel that if people know more about African culture, our country would be better than it is now. Most of the materials and things that they don't have, we take it for granted. Things such as, running water, place to stay, food, clothes to wear, electricity, etc. If we wasn't so selfish, we can help people in Africa with the pain they are going through. We can't move on in life not knowing who we are and where we come from. Our ancestors died for us just to get the rights we should have.
African culture can teach us more about things we didn't know that is relevant to our culture. In conclusion, we will know who we are and where we come from. It's important to know because you can tell you children where they come from and not to take life to granted. It teaches us to help our people in time of need and what our ancestors had to do to get where we are today.
Marvin Clarke
ReplyDeleteYes I think it is important for blacks to learn about African society’s because blacks should know were they originally came from, If someone ask me where I think my ancestors came from and I say African I should be able to tell someone a little something that I know about my ancestors continent. African cultures can teach me how my ancestors live, like how they eat, marriage practices, birth of children, religion and more, African cultures can also think me how life for the Africans were and if the culture is similar to my culture. African Culture is similar to mines in some ways because in my culture I have a Christian religion just like some Africans and they also was upset for being ruled by Great Britain and we gained independence from them too. I also think that it is important for people who are not black to learn about African culture because if they go to that continent they can have some background on the continent and be able to talk to the native people on what they are use to and you can also follow their ceremonies that they have that is similar or different to their own. Also if other countries know about Africa it could erase stereotype that they might have about the people of Africa and it could help us realize that we should not like materials go to waste because the materials we waste African people could use that in their everyday living because like African they have high export in crude oil but yet they are still poor, they do not have enough water to drink, food to eat, money, places to sleep, places to get medical attention if needed and more. We should not show off about what we have because they best thing we have is something that another country does not have, people should not fear another country like Africa because they did not take the time to understand them, Africans are people just like us but they live different then any other country in the world. I both other countries and blacks should learn about African country so blacks can learn about heritage that their ancestors came from and other countries can learn that African people are similar to them but its just that they have a different lifestyle then the other countries and also you can learn a lot from the African that can be similar to another country. Before you go criticizing African countries do a little or a lot of researches then say something.
Yes I think it is important for black americans to learn about african societies. I think it is important because it's good for people to know about their cultures and where they come from. I don't think black americans should think of themselves as totally seperate people from everyone else. I believe they shouldn't because they are also people with a culture. I also believe that african americans can teach us so much more about themselves, their way of living, the different thinqs they eat, music they listen to, and so much more. If african americans seperate themselves from everyone else, then no one will be able to learn and discover new things from a culture that isn't their own. People might even like to visit africa and have an experience of what its like to live in africa. Another thing is that people shouldn't talk bad about the african culture. I say this because everyone might have an african american ancestor. And by them talking bad about africans and their culture, they are talking bad about their ancestors. Even though we might know a little bit about the african culture and lifestyle, we can only know so much and learn a lot more about it. The things we might not know and end up learning one day will amaze us when we do learn more about it. Some people might say "wow that's crazy" or "oh my gosh, I didn't know that until now". In conclusion I do think its important for black americans to learn about african culture, and no I do not think they should seperate themselves from everyone else.
ReplyDeleteNigel Cyril
ReplyDeleteI think black should learn more about African culture then non-blacks since it’s about their history. It would be nice if non-blacks did learn about another history, but it would be better for blacks since it teaches them about their own history. It also really should matter for other ethnic groups like Europeans to know since that’s their neighboring continent. Africa has tons of history, just go to Nigeria and you’ll find 521 languages and 150 million people! It’s not even the biggest country in Africa and yet it has so many people and languages. Egypt doesn’t have that much people, but it holds many legacies, The Giza tomb and the pyramids. Africans also has a history of diseases due to its neighboring country and animals. It’s best to know all the history of diseases like HIV, and swine flu etc. if we were to know more about our culture, we probably would achieve even more greatness like Barack Obama. If African-Americans never allowed themselves to understand their history, we would probably end up like the Indians, loss of our language, land and maybe even history. We wouldn’t even have a black president since Barack Obama actually visits his father’s home, Kenya. You can also learn African culture since it has several religions, if I went to Africa I would find so many religions, ceremonial practices, births of children, how the economy runs, and how’s life in that country. If I were to go to Egypt and Nigeria, I would even learn a bit about Great Britain. I could even find foods I’ve never eaten and bring them back home to share with family and friends and see if they like it. You will find many things you may like in Africa, and even learn about corruption. Sudan has a major genocides going on and even in Chad do to corrupted leaders. This will inspire use to learn more and maybe help to end the genocide and increase your knowledge of your homeland. You may learn so many great things and bad things to improve your knowledge of your history.
Tyrell Young
ReplyDeleteThe teaching and learning of societies have impact individuals’ life from all regions around the world and help them to obtain a better understanding of how to behave and interact his each others. From an African American point of view, I think it is more important for black Americans to learn about African societies than people who aren’t black. My reason supporting my thought is, one should always take an interest and understanding in his or her society above others considering the fact that it defines who you are. If you fail to appreciate your society you can develop a feeling of isolation and viewed as an outcast by others. Some people tend to dislike the format of their society and favor other society above theirs. If this happen to be the case, I think respect and acknowledgement should still be dedicated to your original society to show a sense of appreciation. In American, many African American don’t know the history of their ancestors and oftentimes they are misled by others about their past heritage. African Americans in today’s society sometimes ignored the knowledge of the struggle their ancestors endured in the past and take for granted a world where racism and segregation have become less of an issue. A majority of the African American population, if traced their ancestral root to the past would realize that they are children of Africans who were brought to America as slave. It is very important for the African Americans society to know these facts more than any other societies because it involved their very own people.
The diverseness of culture serves as a prominent feature that distinguish the vast continent of Africa from other continents. Much of Africa’s cultural activity centers on the family and the ethnic group. Although some of the African culture can serves as a negative aspects to our life, a majority of cultures in African can teach us valuable lesson, help us to connect with one another and live in an environment of peace and unity. Like in some African villages, the villagers often look out for one another and aid others in their times of need. Crime and violence are rarely conducted and peace and unity fill that void. Such atmosphere in the heart of Africa can serve as an inspiration to us living in America.
Yes, I think that it is more important for black Americans to learn about African societies than people who aren’t black because African culture can teach us a lot. We can learn about how the African societies differ from the black societies as far as how they live their customs and their everyday lives and culture. We can learn about our roots and where the black Americans come from and how black Americans came to be about. I think yes and no for should people think of themselves totally separate from Africans because I think we originated and evolved from African culture and like that’s where we come from that’s our roots and other things like that but on the other hand Africans and black Americans live totally different lives totally different places and differ in more ways than one. African cultures can teach us the simple ways to do things like in America we use a lot of electronics to do things and we worry about things like that. Africans have to sometimes grow their food while we have the pleasure of just going to the supermarket. I think Africans worry more about the things we take for granted like for example an education. I think it is important to learn about all cultures not just the one you think you come from because you have to learn about other things in order to expand your knowledge. All cultures can teach you something I also believe that not all black people are from Africa. And all people from Africa aren't black. I think if you do come from Africa you should take the time to learn more about it because you should always want to take an interest in where you come from I also think that you shouldn’t judge Africa because of what you hear like how they suffer from poverty or aids. I think that they suffer from poverty because they always have their natural resources taken from them like their oil or their diamonds and that a lot of people in Africa are unemployed and struggle to survive everyday.
ReplyDeleteNo it is not more important for african americans to learn about african societies. The reason why is because not only african americans should be learning about the african past. others should also be able to learn and see the struggles, etc. Also many black americans these days arent even really interested in their african roots and heritage. They are to wrapped up in today's society .
ReplyDeleteBlack americans should not think of themselves different from africans although they all do . We all came from the same place. all originated from africa so there is absouletly no reason for them to differ themselves. Just because you were not born in africa, if they were to trace their roots back far enough they would see they are from the same place as Africans in this society.
African culture can teach us many things. Such as the origin of many of the things we practice. as well as what it took for our people to live today . All of the hardships, etc. African culture overall can teach us history. History of everyones ancestors. No matter what color you may be there are african roots in all . Also it can show us how easy we have it . although many people in the U.S may thing they have it hard. African culture can show us the true struggles. Startingg from poverty to genocide's . The extremeness of the practices in the African cultures can show us how disciplined and strict they are
Overall black americans come from the roots of Africans so there is no reason for them to turn their nose up at those of the African race because they refer to themselves as american. Those who do are rather iggnorant in my opinion and havent come to learn about their ancestors.
African Americans should embrace their African culture. Everyone on this earth has come from Africa, so I think that that if African Americans were to not embrace their own culture they would be selling out. If other cultures would like to learn about African cultures than they should be more than welcome to come. Why shouldn’t other cultures be allowed to share in Africa’s rich culture like we all do? That would be great if we could integrate together and forget all the racial problems. Racial differences are the main things that are destroying our country. We don’t need all of that; it’s not helping any of us to be different. If we could share our culture with other people, then they could share their culture with us. I would be very interested in other people’s cultures. I do not think that American blacks should think of themselves as separate. If they do that then they will out casting themselves more than they already are. Black people are already shunned so why would they bring more attention to themselves? I think that you could learn many things from African culture. Everything that is going on now can be traced back to African culture. If you listen to music now, you can hear that it is strongly influenced by African culture. I like to think that everything can resemble Africa. Some people today are still greatly influenced by Africa’s culture. You can see from in their clothes that they are still true to the motherland like actual cultures. Some Africans that emigrate here bring their culture with them, and spread it around. When they do this you can really see their cultures, you can see their languages, and music. Even in the clothes they wear, you can see what they have to offer. I like seeing things from African culture, it makes me think that everything in my culture is so rich and beautiful. It also makes me a little sad because to think that everything in Africa is rich, yet the people are so poor. This makes me think that African Americans should not exclude anybody because they have been excluded for so many years.
ReplyDeleteNo it is not important for blacks so study the African culture more than others who are not black because it is more beneficial if everybody knows a little about all kinds of cultures so they can be a more educated well rounded person. Studying your roots is essential for people of all different races because without it people will not know about their heritage and how they came to be. The studying of Africa by blacks is equivalent to the studying of Europe by whites. Blacks should study African culture so they can see how blacks made their initial move from Africa to America and also other parts of the world. If your past is unknown your future is also because nobody can go anywhere without having an idea about where they came from. In today’s society most black Americans do not associate themselves with being African but the call themselves African Americans because it was a title given to us so long ago. Today being African means some part of your direct family is an African descendent, such as your mother, father, grandmother or grandfather being born in Africa. But I believe all blacks have a some African blood in their veins because that’s the place we all originally derived from, the connection is so distant these days that blacks do not even consider themselves to be Africans. The studies of African culture could give people an in depth description of the lives of Africans in different time periods. It could also tell us about customs and traditions of different tribal groups and also Africa as an entire continent. African culture also includes their hardships like their struggle to gain independence from British colonization in certain parts of the continent and the HIV, AIDS epidemic which was heavily discussed during its peak, and the genocides that have occurred there. As well as Africans positive moments like when certain countries gained their independence, and when wars ended. The studies of a specific heritage is not limited by the people that are a part of it but by anybody interested in knowing about the events that occurred in certain countries over time.
ReplyDeleteI think it is important for people who are not black to learn about African culture because if they have questions about African Americans then they will most likely answer them by studying our ancestors. They can also learn the truth instead of just listening to stereotypes about Africans. Such as; In Africa there are poor states that don’t have that much money to teach the kids, but I must say Africa is one of the smartest countries. I say this because they have over 500 different languages. I also think it is important for blacks to learn about African societies because, blacks should know were everything started from. I want to be able to say I originally came from Africa because of my ancestors. I would also like to say a few facts that I know about the continent Africa to them. African cultures can teach me how they hunted, how they slept, what they slept in, what they eat, what kind of clothes they wore. It can teach me more about their religion such as, child birth, their marriage practices and much more. When I think of African cultures I think of dancing around a fire in paint and little cloths covering their body; so it makes the question “How different is African culture to our own?” come up in my head many times. I think black Americans should not think of themselves as totally separate people from African people. I believe this because we came from the same place and shouldn't discriminate against them, because we live in America and they live in Africa, they are also people with brains, skills, and culture. To me Africans can teach us more about themselves then what we thought we already knew. Some people visited Africa to see if the comments/ facts where true and experienced things they never thought Africa had or could do. In conclusion I do believe African Americans should learn more about African societies then people who isn’t black, to prove that Africans was striving and making it and we should too. I also believe that African Americans should not separate themselves from African people, because African cultures can teach us a lot.
ReplyDeleteI think it is important for black Americans to learn about African culture, but at the same time, I do think that people of other races and ethnicities should take a shot at learning about African as well as any other culture as well. I don’t believe that black Americans should act as if they are separate from African people. I believe that to be disrespectful, and offending. It seems today the people of the black ethnicity are forgetting where they really came from. Blacks often use African people as the punch line of a joke, or in some other disrespectful manner, when in reality, the origins of our race lie within Africa.
ReplyDeleteI believe it’s vital for us as a people to learn where our race originated, and the traditions our ancestors practiced. We will always need to know the history and beliefs of our ancestors in order to guide our future beliefs and shape our society. Black people, as a race, should in fact strive to learn more about the African society. The amount of knowledge we can gain by embracing African culture and traditions is immense. Some of the things that can be taught by learning about African culture are: discipline, respect, determination, will to learn, knowledge of one’s history, as well as a love for tradition.
When we learn about the culture that influenced the society we live in today, it helps us understand how some of the customs as well as practices evolved and were modernized. It is important for people of different races and ethnicities to learn about other cultures and their practices. For black people, it is definitely important for us to learn about African society, to gain knowledge on the culture we originated from. To me, knowing where I came from, and why I follow the traditions I follow is important to me, as well as where those traditions came from. I’ve always been one to embrace my culture, and I am never ashamed of it. I just wish black Americans as a people would strive to learn more about African, as well as other societies and cultures. I would encourage people of all ethnicities and races to seek knowledge on other cultures just for the sake of learning some thing new. You never what might be intriguing to you.
It is said by most people that everybody came from Africa. I used to think that it was not important for black Americans or any other ethnic group to learn about African cultures unless that individual needs to or they find it interesting. After yesterday I believe that it is important for black Americans to learn about African cultures, they should be interested in learning about the culture. The guest speaker told us about the common religions, languages, fashion, tribes, currency, and government in Nigeria. this is relative because the African culture was influenced by many countries, including the United States. He told us that even though Africa is one continent the religion, languages, tribes, currency, and government differs all throughout the continent just like in America. Though America has influences on Africa. Broken English is derived from English of Great Britain and Africa has their own broken English also. There are many different languages spoken in both Africa and America. There are different religions in Africa, such as Christianity, Islamic, and indigenous beliefs; America has a variety of religions. America has many influences on Africa.
ReplyDeleteBlack Americans like to separate themselves from African cultures because they feel ashamed or say there is no way I am African, I was born in America. All of that may be true but Black Americans do have African ancestors. African were brought over to the Americas as slaves. Britain conquered and dominated Africans, thus Africans adopting a culture and ongoing their new culture to their descendants. I do think it is most important for black Americans to learn at least a few facts about African culture so they can appreciate and accept their ancestors native land and culture.
The simplest words can teach Americans so much. Traditions in Africa are telling folk tales to their kids to explain to them why events happen, why things are the way they are or to let kids know not to do something. Some of the folk tales are wise, amusing and morally significant stories, which should be applied to the lives of most Americans today especially children so they can have wisdom. The guest speaker had also told us the saying “It takes a village to raise a child” was impacted by having many people in a village (parents, teachers, neighbor, etc.) help keep the child in line. This represents unity which is needed in America because we are letting our minor differences diverge from one another. It is always good to know a little about another culture. Specifically it is important for black Americans learn about African culture because they can influence the nation.
It is significant for African Americans to learn about African societies but it is very crucial for any individual to learn about these societies. If an individual does not know where he/she came from, then he/she does not now where one is going.
ReplyDeleteHome is the foundation of any individual’s life. At home, one is taught the first basic skills like walking and talking. People are expected to know other basic skills as well and it is also an implication that those basic skills are thought at home too. For example, a teacher expects his/her student to behave in an orderly manner. The teacher will make this assumption because it is apart of common wisdom to know that a child, who is of school age, was taught discipline by his/her parents. Basic skills that were learned at home are the “building blocks” to higher learning and understanding of any concept. If an individual does not know how to walk, then he/she will not be able to run. Also, if an individual can not talk, then he/she will not be able to participate in discussions or voice out an opinion. With out home, individuals can not build upon skill to become more advanced.
According to Charles Darwin and other scientists, the first humans originated from Africa. Early fossil were found in Africa, which showed the earliest development of humans came from Africa. Everyone originated from Africa. Evolution is the only reason for differences in skin color.
As a society, the individuals who live with in the society main goal are to help contribute to the advancement of the society. As I stated previously, basic skills are learned at home. Africa is everyone’s origin. Africa is everyone’s home. To ever become advanced, people will have to learn about Africa. Learning about Africa is the starting point to understanding. Africa is the building blocks to help African Americans or any individual learn higher concepts.
People can learn many things from African societies. People can learn from previous mistakes Africa made. For example, selling people in exchange for goods and another example is the way African societies practice their religion or do cultural ceremonies. Many things can be learned from African societies to help advance our society
Yes i believe that black people should know about African culture because it is were they originated from. Why wouldn't you want to know where you came from and who your family was. Would it not be interesting to find out what your culture would be like if you were never taken into slavery, how your life would be different. Would it no be reliable to know about your heritage and what your fore fathers did and how they did it. Could your everyday life not benefit from knowing these things. You could slow down your life and practice some customs that can help better your self in reality.
ReplyDeleteAs a related race we should want to know more about each others customs and cultures, how we came to be related, how did our recent customs come from theirs and did it become better or worse. African culture can help us be a closer people instead of fighting and killing each other for no reason. The African culture is based on like a family type structure, every one looks out for each other no matter who you are. That is one of the kind of things we can use in American, that American blacks should and could use to better their selves. Knowing any culture could be good but knowing your own culture can never ever be a problem.
----Joshua Myvette----