The Igbo people The author, Chinua Achebe, writes in the novel Things Fall Apart about a Nigerian man named Okonkwo, whose main goal is to not become like his father. The novel starts after he successfully becomes the village wrestling champion at the age of eighteen. After Okonkwo makes a mistake he and his family are forced to leave his village for several years. By the time he and his family returned it had been taken over by Catholic missionaries.…
Unpacking: Black in America For the cultural event I attended a seminar at the African American resource center at Cal State Fullerton. The seminar focused on “Unpacking: Black in America” gathered African American students from CSUF to speak upon how they felt as a minority in this country. They also shared out their personal stories and experiences on being African American. Gwendolyn Alexis is a faculty liaison for the African American Resource Center who facilitated the event. Professor Alexis is an advocate for African American and minorities she brings knowledge and support for these communities.…
The person that I interviewed is from the Wolof people group and is from the Gambia/Senegal region of West Africa. She had lived there in the urban setting for a good majority of her life, but has also had good amount of western influence. She identifies herself as a Muslim but is not as serious about her religion as the majority of the people in her culture and she does not believe in a lot of the unorthodox Islamic practices. This factor gave an interesting perspective during the religion section of the interview. Family Structure…
Culture of Ghana and west African Countries through Changes The culture of Ghana and other West African countries are very much similar and diverse. People around the world are very closed minded in such a way that they think that the entire African culture is only based on movies and in such a way they think all African countries are based on jungles and wild life. The African culture in general is based on religious beliefs, family, ethics, and different cultural groups. Some interesting factors that are quit catchy are close family, food, the way people dress, and the way people treat each other (the way women are treated in the society).…
To believers, the African religion is strong and steadfast – possessing the power to help those in need, and provide strength to the weak. The tools of Ogun and Ocosi are powerful representations of the religion, and its meaning within the lives of believers. Ogun, the god of blacksmith, is a strong, muscular, and serious spirit symbolized by iron, whereas Ocosi is the god of hunting. Ocosi is a just, ambitious, and familial spirit symbolized mostly by a bow and arrow. The tools of these gods symbolize the African religion because they represent the strength each god possesses.…
The Kaffir Boy is an autobiography written by Mark Mathabane. This explicit books tell of the heart-wrenching apartheid, which takes place in South Africa. Apartheid simply means that there is a discrimination against different races. It is much like segregation in America in the mid-1900's except harsher. Johannes, also known as Mark, recalls his toilsome and encouraging life story within three hundred and fifty pages.…
The African-American survived due to the fact they helped each other, they took care of each other not only blood relatives but others also. During slavery everyone helped to raise each other’s children especially when parents were sold to other slave owners, other adults in the slave community took care of the children left behind, many slaves protected each other in spite of tribal and language differences. The biggest fear of families then was the threat of a child being sold. Even today African-Americans value family, many survive due to the fact that we help each other, and we take care of each other not only blood relatives but others also. The extended family is crucial.…
There are many concepts discussed within Dr. Maulana Karenga’s book Introduction to Black Studies, but I will be thoroughly discussing Black Studies as a discipline, Black Liberation Theology, Black Womanist Theology, Religious Thrusts, the wealth and income and its influence on political empowerment, the reversal of ghettoization problem, economic and political empowerment of African Americans, Black on Black crime, Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome, and Psychopathic Personality (2010). Fundamentally, I will discuss the challenges Black Studies creates for the traditional American education. Black Studies challenges the traditional education in every way. It challenges the fact that all knowledge is based on one particular race—White.…
The philosophy of Black Nationalism as espoused by Malcolm X differs greatly to the viewpoints of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s. Between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s philosophy—nonviolence and civil disobedience—and Malcolm X—any means that is necessary—I would most identify myself with the philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s due to the aspect of nonviolence and civil disobedience that is peaceful in arguing a movement for equality. Additionally, some would choose the means like Malcolm X in achieving something for the greater good; however, if that “means” means hurting other individual’s or committing unlawful actions than what’s the meaning of equality when one is already breaking the law. There’s no point in obtaining that equality,…
I ask three questions therefore one of my questions was “How the ethnography affects my norms?” I think ethnography affect Sudanese norms of living in the United States. During my observation, I see a pattern of behaviors among the youths, such as raise voices to their parents and the ways they act. I think Sudanese norms are more affected by such behavioral expectations or rules of the culture here. Early youth age parents taught me about norms how we are going respect each other and honor the culture.…
Every year during the month of February the nation celebrates Black History Month. Many Americans wonder why there is a Black History month. What makes African Americans distinctive from all other Americans. Black History month or National African American month originated from the Negro Week. The cofounders of this organization were Carter G. Woodson, George Cleveland Hall, W.B. Hartgrove, Alexander L. Jackson, and James E. Stamps.…
Without culture, we would be empty, boring shells. What is culture? “Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts” (Kim Ann Zimmerman). Culture is so influential that it can influence what kind of person you’ll be. Culture is music, sports, traditions, food, religion, language and more.…
The components of blackness can never and will never be defined in a single sentence. Since the early ages, there has always been a sense of separation in between white individuals and individuals of color. Although looking at someone's skin can determine what they look like, there is no way to actually determine who they are and where they are from. But, who is to say you are who you are because of the color of your skin? Individuals from various different cultures and social classes come from all sorts of different ethnic and racial backgrounds.…
Rastafari a Way of; Living, Worshiping and a Cultural Philosophy Rastafari is more than a religion. Rastafarians are Africans who are engaged unconsciousness raising with regard to African heritage, such as black religion, black pride and being in the world. Rastas reserve the right to think, know, name reinterpret and define their essence and existence in nontraditional matters. Rastafarian developed in the slums of Kingston, Jamaica in the early 1900—30’s In the environment of poverty, depression, and racial harmony and political reform.…
The brand conscious shoppers tend to buy products belonging to certain renowned brand names. A decade ago, there weren’t any branded shops found in the market. A range of local and international brands are available now like HSY, Gucci, Vinci, Caanchi and Lugari, Levis, Hajra Hayat. The increasing likeness and preference for particular brand can be especially seen in the purchase of clothes, accessories and perfumes. Although branded products are mainly the domain of the well-off, yet the awareness of brands is increasing amongst all classes of people.…