AFS 2010

BLOG #1

Saundra Wells

 

Melville Herskovits a Jewish sociologist whose studies of the African American culture initially believed in the idea that African Americans retained their instilled cultural practices. This idea differed from that of his colleague E. Franklin Frazier that African Americans had lost part if not all of their cultural practices during slavery, because of the oppressive experience during their time of captivity. This may have been a forethought because of the in human treatment of African Americans extended to them in slavery, including the practice of not letting the captured individuals practice any of their homeland rituals.

 The parallel of both Lorenzo Turner and Melville Herskovits lives was significant even from the beginning their educational goals as well as their interest in Africa starting in 1930 was substantial. Both adopted the African retention theory and held it as the center of their studies in the African American culture. Although both were scholars of the African American culture the only division was that Turner explored his theory as a linguist and Herskovits developed his views as an anthropologist. Both scholars was very much interested in African retentions in the new world.

Early theories on the African culture focused on many ways of grasping a set way of understanding how this diversified group functioned. The theories of African people and that of African American was connected through music, folklore, art, speech and religion.

The scholars discussed in the video as well as in the readings for this assignment was Lorenzo Turner whose theory was that of language. He was Linguist who studied data and many languages utilized by African Americans from different areas in Africa. Turner studied the language of the Gullah people of West Africa with the idea that his theory of language would be supported.

Herskovits an anthropologist, whose theory was that African Americans were indeed not influenced by their African Ancestors, but that African Americans utilized the culture of the Europeans who forcefully removed them from Africa.  Herskovits theory of “African Americanism” was not supported by the cultural patterns that paralleled Africa to blacks in Harlem an area in which he felt represented a cross section of the black life. His theory as it was set began to change after experiences during his travels which included Dominica, St. Kitts, St. Lucia and Barbados. During these travels he was able to view that something as a simple as a game or dance portrayed cultural roots to their African Ancestors in their original culture.

Sociologist Frazier’s theory was one that once Africans were brought to the United States-they dismissed all of their African cultural practices.

The article highlighted the participation of African Americans in the war. The migration from the “Garvey Movement” created false pride of Nationalism. Although during this time the interest of blacks on learning more about their heritage and history. The development of the NAACP had the attention of many authors of European descent implanting and interest in African American communities throughout the country. The presence of racial issues aided in the development of the African American culture. One primary influence was the “Harlem Renaissance”, which was discussed in the documentary as well as in the article. The Harlem Renaissance can be very well identified as a display of African Americans coming to their identities. African art, music and writings thrived in Harlem. Herskovits witnessed this development-he was at Columbia University at the time.

The educational achievement of both Turner and Herskovits inspires me. It is my goal to study “cultures” to help me satisfy my curiosity as to how they developed. My academic goals I have set for myself include obtaining a PhD in Sociology. I would also one day want to be able to be a teacher of the African American Culture.

Posted by Saundra Wells at 5:21 PM No comments:

AFS 2010

BLOG #1

Saundra Wells

 

Melville Herskovits a Jewish sociologist whose studies of the African American culture initially believed in the idea that African Americans retained their instilled cultural practices. This idea differed from that of his colleague E. Franklin Frazier that African Americans had lost part if not all of their cultural practices during slavery, because of the oppressive experience during their time of captivity. This may have been a forethought because of the in human treatment of African Americans extended to them in slavery, including the practice of not letting the captured individuals practice any of their homeland rituals.

 The parallel of both Lorenzo Turner and Melville Herskovits lives was significant even from the beginning their educational goals as well as their interest in Africa starting in 1930 was substantial. Both adopted the African retention theory and held it as the center of their studies in the African American culture. Although both were scholars of the African American culture the only division was that Turner explored his theory as a linguist and Herskovits developed his views as an anthropologist. Both scholars was very much interested in African retentions in the new world.

Early theories on the African culture focused on many ways of grasping a set way of understanding how this diversified group functioned. The theories of African people and that of African American was connected through music, folklore, art, speech and religion.

The scholars discussed in the video as well as in the readings for this assignment was Lorenzo Turner whose theory was that of language. He was Linguist who studied data and many languages utilized by African Americans from different areas in Africa. Turner studied the language of the Gullah people of West Africa with the idea that his theory of language would be supported.

Herskovits an anthropologist, whose theory was that African Americans were indeed not influenced by their African Ancestors, but that African Americans utilized the culture of the Europeans who forcefully removed them from Africa.  Herskovits theory of “African Americanism” was not supported by the cultural patterns that paralleled Africa to blacks in Harlem an area in which he felt represented a cross section of the black life. His theory as it was set began to change after experiences during his travels which included Dominica, St. Kitts, St. Lucia and Barbados. During these travels he was able to view that something as a simple as a game or dance portrayed cultural roots to their African Ancestors in their original culture.

Sociologist Frazier’s theory was one that once Africans were brought to the United States-they dismissed all of their African cultural practices.

The article highlighted the participation of African Americans in the war. The migration from the “Garvey Movement” created false pride of Nationalism. Although during this time the interest of blacks on learning more about their heritage and history. The development of the NAACP had the attention of many authors of European descent implanting and interest in African American communities throughout the country. The presence of racial issues aided in the development of the African American culture. One primary influence was the “Harlem Renaissance”, which was discussed in the documentary as well as in the article. The Harlem Renaissance can be very well identified as a display of African Americans coming to their identities. African art, music and writings thrived in Harlem. Herskovits witnessed this development-he was at Columbia University at the time.

The educational achievement of both Turner and Herskovits inspires me. It is my goal to study “cultures” to help me satisfy my curiosity as to how they developed. My academic goals I have set for myself include obtaining a PhD in Sociology. I would also one day want to be able to be a teacher of the African American Culture.

BLOG #11

             
     Traditional African religion after viewing the video "Traditional African Religions", I am convinced that the Europeans were the blueprint of how Africans would worship. The Europeans had their own way of belief of how they worshiped' so upon arriving to Africa their way of worshiping was forced upon the Africans as another form of control. The way that the Africans worshipped came from their ancestors became somewhat null and void in the eyes of the Europeans.  The environment and nature are infused in every aspect of traditional African religions and culture. This is largely because cosmology and beliefs are intricately intertwined with the natural phenomena and environment. All aspects of weather, thunder, lightning, rain, day, moon, sun, stars, and so on may become amenable to control through the cosmology of African people. Natural phenomena are responsible for providing people with their daily needs.The strong arming and intimidation of the Africans by the Europeans to change they way they would worship, was convincing enough to allow the Africans to go along with the change in the open but this was not a strong enough hold that would remove their learned way of worshipping. In other words it made the Africans hide their rituals that they were comfortable with, this proved also that they were still in some control of their fate.
    In Africa the sport of choice if Futbol a sport that has proven to be most important in their country,
one that all many to become unified among all in Africa. The players of the game futbol proved to be quite the obedient to rituals before games to show that were traditional practices. The organization of religion in Africa today has provided a path as to how they believe they will be blessed. The religions Islam and Christianity are the top religions among Africans today.  The difference in the religions and why some choose one over the other would prove to be irrelevant, because sole purpose for all is to reach the promise land. Even though there may some tension between those that choose Islam and those that choose Christianity, it still remain that traditional still plays a major part. 

AFS BLOG #10

AFRICAN  HEALTH

      The epidemic of Aids in Africa is a terrible thing, the statistics for those affected with HIV is at an alarming high. While listening to the panel I got the message that each individual from each area represented from entertainers to educators and politicians, and that was that something needs to be done in order to save the people of Africa and everywhere from HIV/AIDS.
    In Chapter 27 the statistics support that the inability to obtain proper medication and to have a clean environment with clean water available is a factor of the spread of this disease. Africa the next frontier as described by the panel states and confirms that this country needs help, and that the United States does have the means to assist with the fight against HIV. I agree that the United States should help a country that is so oppressed and in need of help to assure that a future can happen, the continuous spread of such a disease will definitely put the country into instinct mode. I mean if the children that are born are condemned before they reach puberty then the country stands a chance that they will disappear. The availability of medication can only come about if funds are raised to assure that medication can be manufactured and distributed to each individual in need, allowing them to fight the spread of HIV if not prevent the disease itself.
    Also the monies raised can be used to create and support current research of a cure for HIV/AIDS.
I have been enlightened with the satisfaction that Africa has not been forgotten and that many are willing to help with monies, sexual education and to put more emphasis on research to clear up this epidemic. I am confident that this will be what the country of Africa needs, once this has passed we will be able to relate to Africa on a more even ground.

AFS BLOG #9

    "A Girl Who Demanded School"

    I really enjoyed the video of Kakenya Ntaiya highlighting the desire of a female born in such a traditional setting as Kenya with one of the most common wishes and that was to attend school.  The traditional setting in which was spoken of by the author as a fact confirming humorous way was very enlightening to me. The confirmation of her speaking of her upbringing, childhood and young adulthood in a lightened manner proved that you can overcome any unpleasant situation if you put your mind to it. Ms. Ntaiya grew up in a household that proved no different than any other in her country, her dad was the head of the household even though he was not present physically all of the time because of his duties as a police- and her Mom's role was to take care of the house children, land to assure all was well when he arrived home. Even thought his arrival home may have only been twice a year, he was still given prompts as head of house. The household was considered to be normal for their society because all traditions were followed - no one stepped outside of their role, making the house "normal". The idea though that even as traditional her family and household appeared there was some underlying desire for change, change that would need to be approached with caution as to not disturb tradition because that was "bad:. Ms. Ntaiya request to attend school which was not the norm for females in Kenya, had to be approached with a definite plan to assure that she would be able to get the request out before it was vetoed. She made what she felt was a deal with her Dad and that was to follow the tradition and become engaged at puberty to someone that Dad chose also to go through female circumcision if he would allow her to attend High School. This sounds too painful and unnecessary, but due to tradition no one bothered to challenge. According to Chapter 24 this ritual of circumcision of a females genitals became a situation that was proven to be against the law later . One would wonder what is the purpose of a female circumcision unlike a male it is not done to improve hygiene and definitely not improve sexual interest. So I wonder why would a group of people engage in such a barbaric act all because of tradition? religion? I know that many years ago there was not means to understand the body as time and technology has allowed us to do, so tradition was something that was a concept thought of by elders of the villages. I enjoyed her explanation of how she fought to get something she wanted -education and also the light hearted explanation of tradition of an African family.

BLOG #8

    The various types of music and instruments used by the musicians delivers many messages, by each musician in their own way. The size of each band as viewed in the video does not confirm what the bands message that would be given. For example King Sunny played an important role in Afro pop, by playing many different instruments some unique.His 10 member band delivered who played the drums,guitar with such an upbeat tempo it made you not think of how many other instruments could been added. The music was entertaining and original with their own style, just as music should be. A musician stands out only if he has his own way of playing, one that can carry his signature and be tied to him. This is the mark of a good musician to me.  Africa a country grounded with tradition represents  true music to me.

BLOG #7

Saundra Wells

 

 

 

 

The chapter on African Art during the Diaspora could be referred to as temporary and traditional in a sense that the genuineness put into African Art was attraction to the Europeans, because of the impact on life it plays a  part of it was put down as not treated as equally important.  While the European art was displayed appropriately in museums-African art was downplayed and disrespected by not being given the justified prompts it deserved. The African Art provided a dual role it was and still is used as a cultural teaching tool to teach history to those who have not known about their roots. In the Djemke video displayed drums given to African children these drums which was created themselves, gave them a part of culture that they may not have known if Africans had fallen to the belittling of their culture as it was presented by outsiders. African Art can be viewed as traditional as well as a way of providing entertainment. The masks used in these performances highlighted gave us a narration of a story being told, this is where the traditions are unfolded. So while the masks are displayed onto a wall in a museum, they reveal art and history as well as culture of African Americans. Although stories are being told through the use of mask and music, history is also expressed through other forms of art i.e. wood and clay also mud art. The idea of art makes a mark in the world that cannot be forgotten.