What is Black culture?

Question

I asked a question last night about what is acting white? I had once person say it means that the person does not want to embrace black culture. I thought ok then what is black culture? Isn't black culture really american culture? I mean if I went to england i would be seen as American not black. The blues even hip hop is enjoyed by a LOT of people not just African Americans. If black culture is hip hop culture what about older black people(like my parents) they don't like hip hop does this mean they don't want to embrace "black culture"? I can understand someone wanting to understand their ancestry but I can do that by visiting a black arts museum or a African festival(awesome one in the atl). Does embracing black culture mean knowing your ancestry? I know lots of white people who don't know a thing about where their ancestors came from and they aren't considered any less white. I have native american ancestry and i don't know much about that does this void any of that particular ancestry i have in me? Plz help i really want to know.

Answer 1

Jazz, Blues, Rock and Hip Hop are all part of black american culture, because our people created it, it does not matter if other people like it. and black culture is a part of American culture..

Answer 2

that a good question

Black (and by Black I assume you mean African American and not say black people in other parts of the world) culture is a subculture of American culture.

its more then just music, like any other culture it's things like a share history, language (or in this cause a spin and additions to another's language), food, etc.

being part of the american cultures to some of these things to some degree or another get absorbed (or rejected) by the larger culture

"Does embracing black culture mean knowing your ancestry? "

Not really.  due to the way things happened during slavery most African American can't really trace their ancestry that far back.

"I know lots of white people who don't know a thing about where their ancestors came from and they aren't considered any less white."

and they aren't any less white.  

"I have native american ancestry and i don't know much about that does this void any of that particular ancestry i have in me?"

no, not knowing much about part of your ancestral idienty doesn't void the fact that you have native american ancestry.  

Answer 3

In America, black folks who's families have been here a long time don't have any real "culture" anymore than whites here do. Just one of those sad things that were sacrificed by the disconnection with ancestral homelands, whether forced or on their own.

The things we try to develop as an "identity" is just that... it's trying to forge an identity, but it's not a real culture. It's all just basic, largely materialistic stuff. Real culture is deeper than that. And it kind of sucks that we miss out on what people who are still connected to their ancestral roots still know.

Answer 4

Your parents would probably like jazz, blues, or classical r&b of course.

Answer 5

1) The person you talked to is ignorant.  There is no such thing a "black culture".  There are approx. 1 BILLION "black" people on the face of this planet.  We all have different cultures.  In Nigeria alone, there are approx. 250 ethnic groups..each with their own history.  When you include black from other African countries, Europe, N.America, S. American, Asia and the West Indies your dealing with a very culturally diverse group of people.

2) Hip-hop =/= Black culture.....or African-American culture.  It is simply a small part of AA culture.  Don't believe everything the media tries to sell you.

3) "Does embracing black culture mean knowing your ancestry?"  No.  Knowing your ancestry simply means that you have an idea about the history of my people.  

"I have native american ancestry"

As do I :-).  I'm descendant from the Amerindian groups of the West Indies. (I have a list of suspected ethnic groups if your curious)  Which native american groups?

4) Basically what I'm saying is...just be yourself.  You are who you are, you like what you like.  If somebody else disagrees, tell them to go to h**l! :-)