American culture has evolved vastly. It has evolved in ways that have changed America for the better. Early American culture differs greatly from current American culture and early American culture has been portrayed through many texts, images, sculptures. Memoirs, historical narratives, and memorials reveal the truth, personal experiences and the collective memory of American culture.
Historical narratives such as, “Of Plymouth Plantation” reveal the considered historical truth about American culture. It’s what is taught in school. “Of Plymouth Plantation” shows how the pilgrims arrived to America. It explains the bravery and perseverance of the pilgrims who traveled a long harsh journey to get to America. For example, the texts states, “Which most sad and lamentable was that in two or three months’ time, half of their company died.” (pg. 61) This historical narrative informs only one side of the truth, the pilgrims side. It doesn’t show how poorly the pilgrims treated the Natives, which is important to know. …show more content…
Memoirs such as, “The Life of Equiano”, reveal that early Americans believed that the color of one's skin distinguished their worth. In this case, African Americans didn’t have rights and were not citizens and most of the were slaves. Equiano describes the inhumane conditions him and the former slaves were put in because they were African American. The white men would throw their scraps into the water rather than feed them to the starving slaves. For example, “One day they had taken a number of fishes; and when they had killed and satisfied themselves with as many as they thought fit, rather than give any of them to us to eat, as we expected, they tossed the remaining fish into the sea again,” (pg. 173) This reveals racism against people with a dark skin
Historical narratives such as, “Of Plymouth Plantation” reveal the considered historical truth about American culture. It’s what is taught in school. “Of Plymouth Plantation” shows how the pilgrims arrived to America. It explains the bravery and perseverance of the pilgrims who traveled a long harsh journey to get to America. For example, the texts states, “Which most sad and lamentable was that in two or three months’ time, half of their company died.” (pg. 61) This historical narrative informs only one side of the truth, the pilgrims side. It doesn’t show how poorly the pilgrims treated the Natives, which is important to know. …show more content…
Memoirs such as, “The Life of Equiano”, reveal that early Americans believed that the color of one's skin distinguished their worth. In this case, African Americans didn’t have rights and were not citizens and most of the were slaves. Equiano describes the inhumane conditions him and the former slaves were put in because they were African American. The white men would throw their scraps into the water rather than feed them to the starving slaves. For example, “One day they had taken a number of fishes; and when they had killed and satisfied themselves with as many as they thought fit, rather than give any of them to us to eat, as we expected, they tossed the remaining fish into the sea again,” (pg. 173) This reveals racism against people with a dark skin