Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
At its basic definition, jazz is a musical art from created at the turn of the 20th century in New Orleans by African-American musicians. It is most noted for it improvisational style, rhythmic patterns and distinctive performance techniques. But that is not all that jazz is. Jazz is also a lifestyle, reflected in the lives of those men and women that created the form. It permeates speech, clothing, and attitude. Jazz is an ideal. To paraphrase Louis Armstrong "somebody that has to ask about what jazz is will never know."
African-American hairstyles have demonstrated both defiance and sophistication. In the late 1960s and 1970s Afros were considered expressions of cultural identity as well as a rebellion against conforming to the beauty norms of white culture. Today, African-Americans have created exotic, new Afros that grace the pages of mainstream fashion magazines, celebrating their culture throughout the world.
Symbols of the United States elicit patriotism from its citizen, signify the values of the country and remind Americans of their country's history. Colors, numbers, words and images make up many of these symbols. American symbols can be found all across the country, from government buildings to citizens' homes, and even on U.S. currency.
To write a paper about a culture bracelet is to appreciate, classify and analyze it as an item of material culture in the context of body decoration. Bracelets add a touch of elegance to a person's overall being. People throughout the world have worn bracelets since prehistoric times. Consider the gold bracelets studded with precious stones crafted by goldsmiths in India, the wire bracelets worn by the Maasai women of Kenya, or the ubiquitous crazy multicolor rubber band bracelets much in vogue today. Fortunately, there are bracelets that cater for every whim and fancy and budget.
To anyone living outside of Arkansas, this state may just appear to be a vast forestland filled with natural beauty, earning its earthy nickname of the "Natural State." However, any true Arkansan knows that beyond those many beautiful acres of the Ozark Forest there are some funny quirks that make the state a unique place to call home.
The Renaissance period originated in Northern Italy in the 14th century, spread to Europe in the late 15th century and lasted until the 17th century. It was a period of excitement, and a revolution of new thinking changed the culture in Europe, and particularly in England, forever. Nevertheless, compared to the modern day, living was extremely basic and there are many funny facts about the Renaissance period and the way individuals of that time used to live.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or NAACP, is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating civil rights for African-Americans. Based in Baltimore, Maryland, the NAACP has been working on behalf of the African-American community for over 100 years. Today, the NAACP continues to advocate for civil rights for all Americans. Members of the NAACP support the organization with membership fees and with volunteer work, including demonstrations, educational events and disaster relief work.
Afro-Brazilian people live in the country of Brazil in South America and can trace their roots back to various countries within Western Africa. During the Transatlantic slave trade, many people from Western Africa were imported into Brazil, which resulted in the country having the largest African population within the New World. Portuguese slave traders were primarily responsible for bringing Africans to Brazil; in 1888, Princess Isabella of Brazil abolished slavery. Since that time, many black and brown people have resided within Brazil and helped to develop its identity and culture.
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity turned 100 years old in 2011. Founded at Indiana University in 1911, the fraternity established itself on principles of brotherhood and achievement, and has adopted five core objectives to preserve the solidarity of its membership. These objectives apply to prospective Kappa Alpha Psi members as well as to the organization as a collective.
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated is an African-American fraternity that offers resources and services to its local communities. The fraternity started in 1911, and its motto remains, "Achievement in every field of human endeavor." The fraternity seeks to assist the community with scholarships, afterschool programs, and other service projects like Habitat for Humanity.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the largest civil rights organization in the United States. The NAACP has local branches across the U.S. and is very active in helping to resolve conflicts.The NAACP Houston branch has approximately 1500 members, as of 2011. The organization offers legal resources to Houston residents and contact information through its Legal Service Guide. You can also file a complaint or talk to an executive member at the NAACP, by filling out an online contact form.
The plantation was one of the most characteristic institutions of the antebellum South. These large-scale agricultural ventures, overseen by an owner or manager, used slave labor to produce cash crops, like cotton, export. Plantations were the backbone of the economy by the time the Civil War began in 1861. It marked a turning point in the history of the plantation.
America is a country of immigrants, and these families who came to the United States from elsewhere brought their food, humor, culture and language with them. American English is full of influences from Spain, the Yiddish language, French and Italian, just to name a few. As we continue to welcome new Americans from other countries, we will continue to enjoy the richness these immigrants bring to our society and our language.
Africa is the second largest continent in the world and has more than 800 ethnic groups and 1,000 languages. The size of Africa has contributed to a diversity of art that dates to prehistoric times. Craftspeople were dependent on natural resources available to them for the production of their artwork, explaining the multifariousness of the materials used for their creations. Other factors that affected their production were tribal power and wealth because both dictated the type of objects that were going to be produced.
In the more than 500 years since the first Africans were stolen from Africa and sold in North America, the condition of African Americans has certainly improved. Over that time they survived, among other travesties, slavery, segregation, discriminatory laws and the Ku Klux Klan. Even in 2011, with Barack Obama in the White House, it cannot be said that blacks have achieved full equality.
Kappa Alpha Psi is one of the largest and oldest college fraternities for African-Americans in the United States. It was founded at the University of Indiana as Alpha Kappa Nu in 1911, and became Kappa Alpha Psi in 1915. "To unite college men of culture, patriotism and honor in a bond of fraternity" is a key tenet of the organization's objectives. Kappa Alpha Psi has over 700 undergraduate and alumni chapters throughout the United States, and over 150,000 members.
Through earning the African American Awareness scout patch, members of the Girl Scouts of America will gain a better understanding of the history of the African American culture and the contributions African Americans have made to society. The patch includes more than 10 areas of focus, with activities in each area for the girls to accomplish. The girls only need to complete six to 10 of these activities, depending on their rank. The activities done in earning the African American Awareness patch can be tailored in complexity to match the age of the girls in the troop.
Joining the Phi Mu sorority can be a life-changing experience for a young woman. In addition to meeting new friends, you take part in the sorority-defining experience, such as engaging inter-Greek parties, philanthropic events and service projects. If you are a Phi Mu alumnae and know of an outstanding collegiate-aged woman interested in Greek life, recommending her as a potential Phi Mu sister is the best way to help with her admission. In fact, some collegiate chapters require a letter of recommendation for a woman to even go through recruitment.
For more than a hundred years, Africans were transported across the Atlantic against their will as slaves to first the British and French colonies, and later the United States. Hundreds of thousands of slaves made this journey. The African culture also arrived with the slaves -- and with it the food, music and words used around the world today.
A strong paper on African-American culture can mean the difference between a good or bad course grade. Choose a manageable topic, for example, "Motherhood in the poetry of Lucille Clifton," with enough research sources to ensure an array of primary and secondary source passages to analyze. Save hours with a few principles.
African-American culture has had an unmistakable influence on the rest of American society and the rest of the world. African-American music is among the most replicated around the world; black musicians have pioneered many genres, including blues, jazz, gospel, rock 'n' roll and hip-hop. Black athletes have also been prominent in various sports at the highest level. African-American writers and filmmakers have produced many evocative and provocative works which have received international acclaim.
Getting a tongue ring can be a cultural necessity or a fashion statement; it depends on the wearer's intent and her social milieu. Roman soldiers endured piercings to prove their courage before battle. African and Native Americans used piercings in ritualistic ceremonies to induct youngsters into adulthood. For teenagers of the punk-rock persuasion, a piercing can be a kind of counter-cultural credential. But, as tongue piercings continue to be fashionable in the modern era, their meaning has begun to vary from person to person. The meaning of a tongue ring can, in particular contexts, differ from ear, face, nose or…
Cajun food is famous around the world for being spicy and seafood-laden. Cajun food comes from south Louisiana, but you can order it in restaurants across the country. Cajun food has roots in the Acadian culture of south Louisiana, where exiled Nova Scotians moved in the late 18th century. Over the years, it has intermingled with Creole and African-American cuisine to become something totally unique. Cajun food focuses on hearty but inexpensive ingredients, often made in one pot.
Visitors interested in learning about the African American experience in the U.S. can find numerous museums and cultural centers throughout the Washington D.C. area. In addition to private museums, the Smithsonian Institute houses a wide-array of African American historical materials. Visitors can explore the history of the African American experience through fashion, the civil war and Trans-Atlantic slavery.
For the tens of millions of Africans brought to the United States in chains, plantation life was the only vestige of civilization that remained. From these crumbs, first-generation Africans of countless nations and their progeny created a single, lasting culture that would go on to impact not only African-American life in the United States, but greater American culture at large. African-American culture developed on the plantations both in master-approved gatherings and secret, illegal activities.
The African-American experience is enriched with multiple religious and cultural traditions. Many organizations, such as the Pew Research Center, have studied the religious affiliations of African-Americans for years. Although many African-Americans follow dominant religious faiths, there are culturally unique aspects found within each faith that are aligned with African-American society.
From the early 1920s to the late 1930s, a small section of Manhattan became a haven for African-American music, literature, dance and art. This cultural movement, known as the Harlem Renaissance, introduced black literature and art to white and international audiences and helped set the foundation for the Civil Rights Movement.
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. is the most famous African-American fraternity. It was founded in 1914 by three students at Howard University. The seriousness of the fraternity is captured in its motto: "Culture For Service and Service For Humanity." The fraternity is known for its programs to advance the health and causes of African-American young men. It is closely associated with the African-American sorority, Zeta Phi Beta.
The Harlem Renaissance was a time of incredible cultural achievement among African-Americans during the 1920s and 1930s. A number of "firsts" were met in terms of education, music, literature and arts. Despite the lynchings and violence still prevalent in many parts of America, the African-American experience was able to be conveyed to the world through the voices of numerous talented individuals.
Urban African-American culture has evolved over time from a varied heritage whose roots reach back hundreds of years to supply the present with inspiration. Today, urban African-American culture has a heavy influence on American popular culture while retaining its own distinct qualities.
The Afro, sometimes called a "natural" and often shortened to "fro," is a popular hairstyle born out of African American culture. The Afro hairstyle extends out of the head in the shape of a ball or cloud. The Afro hairstyle requires curly textured hair, so although anyone of any ethnic background is capable of growing an Afro if they have the right type of hair, people of African descent typically have the right type of hair.
The history of African Americans in the U.S. is one that is long and filled with many triumphs and tribulations. Through their experiences and accomplishments, African American's have developed many cultural symbols. African American cultural symbols are those that are commonly attributed to or strongly affiliated with Black Americans, either by the Black community themselves or other cultures.
African-Americans, the second-largest minority group as of 2010, have lived in the United States since the Colonial period. Most African-Americans are the descendants of slaves who worked on Southern plantations during the antebellum era. Seeking a sense of identity, they formed their own culture based on the arts, faith, oral tradition and community. Although black culture has evolved to include new elements, such as hip-hop, remnants from the past continue to influence present culture.
African Americans make up an important part of the culture in the U.S. While this people group only represents about 13 percent of the total population, they have made significant contributions in many areas including art, music and education. African-American culture has a rich history and is still developing today.
Food is a huge part of the African American culture. African American dishes are closely connected with the slavery of Africans in America--many of the vegetables, fruits and cooking styles used today are the same ones that were used by African slaves that were brought to the States. The distinctive flavors and ingredients in African American cuisine have made it popular with people of all backgrounds across the country.
Celebrants gather for Kwanzaa parties in a spirit of community and culture. Kwanzaa celebrations radiate reverence for African Amercian and Pan-African cultures. African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa from December 26 through January 1. Kwanzaa party tables overflow with fresh fruits and vegetables, savory stews and meats, and cooling drinks.
There is more to African American culture than what you see on TV and in movies. The characters in media are often caricatures, or exaggerated versions, of real people. In order to understand African American culture, or any culture for that matter, it's important you do your homework and not to be afraid to step outside your comfort zone.
Coffee is part of Seattle's culture. Even though the history of coffee in Seattle is sporadic, the past 30 years has given the city a reputation for producing high-quality coffee.
In today's society, leaving your hometown for greener pastures may be a necessity for your career choice. For black women, factors such as a rich culture, lifestyle, and African-American opportunities come into play as well. Whether you prefer a big booming city or a small and charming town, there are many options that can make you feel at home culturally and professionally.
The Harlem Renaissance was a period between 1910-1930 in New York City's Harlem that saw the flourishing of African-American art, literature, music and politics.
Many designers and fashion magazines tout the appeal of bohemian clothing. It may not be right for the investment banker in the boardroom, but it's perfect for an afternoon music festival in a field or a stroll through a farmer's market. Bohemian clothing is feminine and funky, loose and relaxed, casual and charming. It's never really out of style. You can incorporate boho-chic touches into your wardrobe, or go for the full bohemian look.
Traditions are practiced in many distinct forms. Traditions are commonly known as ritualistic practices that are passed on generation after generation; they're passed through society, family and individual influences. Some traditions are based on religious beliefs. Other traditions may provide an understanding of a particular culture. Whichever way a tradition is learned, it will always define the principles of customs for the people who practice them.
