European Influence On African American Culture

Africans and Native Americans did not believe in written records like the Europeans did; they preferred to pass stories and teachings of the religion to generation to generation by oral means. Most of what is known of Africans and Native Americans are views and written works by Europeans. Most if not all of the works are tailored to fit how Europeans wants everyone to view African and Native American religion and culture. The viewpoints are in disdain of African and Native American religions. So Africans and Native Americans may not have written anything down, but there are still things that are known about their religions, whether slightly embellished or not, because of scholars who have decided to study their religions, artwork, and descriptions of actual Africans.

Many European scholars believe that African religions are uncivilized, unchanging, uninspiring, and dark. Hollywood movies have depicted African Religions falsely. The indifference and ignorance have shaped how people view the religions of Africans. Everyone thinks that the way they practice religion is primitive, animalistic, superstitious, manipulative, and practicing ancestral worship. The artwork of Africans can also show insight into the religions. African artwork compared to European artwork is expressive, has enduring value, and is culturally …show more content…
The religion is depicted as simplistic, weird, uncivilized, lazy, drunks, and unenlightened. Hollywood also plays a part in incorrectly describing Native American religion and Native Americans in general. Native American art is also expressive, shows enduring value, and is culturally conditioned. There are accounts that are more accurate in correctly depicting Native American religion. It is known that Europeans have kept Native American names for rivers, mountains, and places. They even decided to come up with their own names using Native American words to come up with their own