A Class Blog exploring American literature and the American experience.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
African Americans
Do African Americans believe in the culture from Africa yet, still today?? and why or why not? Would you follow the same traditions from your ansestors??
I think it depends on the family. There are probably some families that are every into their past and heritage and other who don't really care. I think it is the same with any heritage or religion, some people are really care about their past and other don't. It all depends on the person and families beliefs. I think I would follow some of the traditions from my ancestors because I do that now. At certain holidays my family has special traditions from our ancestors. My ancestors are important to me now, so I would probably want to keep some of the traditions. I think peoples beliefs about their past differ from person to person so it is hard to tell.
I agree with Lauren that certain traditions depend on the person or the family. I also agree that African Americans differ as well as any other person about what traditions they follow and what they take from their ancestors. My family also follows certain traditions that my ancestors passed down to us during holidays or other occasions. I think Lauren is right when she says that traditions and beliefs are different for each person.
I agree with both Lauren and John that it depends on each family whether they still value and incorporate their ancestors into their lives. One factor that might attribute to this is how recently in their family history an important event might have occurred. For instance if someone's parents or grandparents just came to America not too long ago they might still really focus on their history and traditions. Personally, in my family we talk about our history. There isn't necessarily many traditions in our family that would appear that different from other families like ours, but our history is still a large part of who we are today.
I think that in earlier time periods, African Americans tried to be less connected to their heritage because they were trying to be like white Americans and prove that they were equal to them. Today, because equality is not an issue anymore, African Americans can be more proud of their heritage and their origins. But I also think that as time has gone by, most African Americans have begun to consider themselves primarily American and have forgotten about their heritage. Like Lauren and John said, whether families keep their heritage and traditions present in their lives differs for each family.
Similar to what was said I also think it depends on the family. I think that in earlier times African Americans originally felt a connection to there heritage because they were slaves who had all of there rights taken away. I believe that they held on to there heritage because it was something that could give them hope. Equality today is not as much as an issue as it was back then. I believe that weather or not people in general want to keep there heritage is ultimately up to them.
Not only do I think it depends on the family, I think it depends on the environment around the individual and the individual themselves. If the environment around a person is rich in culture, they would be influenced to perhaps bring this culture into their lives. I think that times do change and heritage does mean different things in different time periods, but I think it depends on individuality and pride. I do agree with Katie and Lauren about family values and traditions, but in this age, we are more rebellious and willing to create a life of our own. I think heritage and culture has somewhat slipped the minds of the youth in the 21st century and other things occupy our time and thoughts. I just think that culture can be adapted into anyone's life, but it depends on the individual themselves, and whether they are willing to accept their family history into their lives.
i agree with jayme. i think that this issue depends on the family and the individual. some people care a lot about their culture because they are surrounded by it and it truly speaks to them. i think that people will keep in touch with their heritage if they feel a sense of connection to it. as we saw in class when people did their free writes, different people felt differently about their heritage and how much they believed it affected them
After a couple of generations, I think that everybody integrates in the country they live in and forget about their origins. So I would say that African Americans relate way more to America than Africa today.
I think it depends on the family. There are probably some families that are every into their past and heritage and other who don't really care. I think it is the same with any heritage or religion, some people are really care about their past and other don't. It all depends on the person and families beliefs. I think I would follow some of the traditions from my ancestors because I do that now. At certain holidays my family has special traditions from our ancestors. My ancestors are important to me now, so I would probably want to keep some of the traditions. I think peoples beliefs about their past differ from person to person so it is hard to tell.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lauren that certain traditions depend on the person or the family. I also agree that African Americans differ as well as any other person about what traditions they follow and what they take from their ancestors. My family also follows certain traditions that my ancestors passed down to us during holidays or other occasions. I think Lauren is right when she says that traditions and beliefs are different for each person.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both Lauren and John that it depends on each family whether they still value and incorporate their ancestors into their lives. One factor that might attribute to this is how recently in their family history an important event might have occurred. For instance if someone's parents or grandparents just came to America not too long ago they might still really focus on their history and traditions. Personally, in my family we talk about our history. There isn't necessarily many traditions in our family that would appear that different from other families like ours, but our history is still a large part of who we are today.
ReplyDeleteI think that in earlier time periods, African Americans tried to be less connected to their heritage because they were trying to be like white Americans and prove that they were equal to them. Today, because equality is not an issue anymore, African Americans can be more proud of their heritage and their origins. But I also think that as time has gone by, most African Americans have begun to consider themselves primarily American and have forgotten about their heritage. Like Lauren and John said, whether families keep their heritage and traditions present in their lives differs for each family.
ReplyDeleteSimilar to what was said I also think it depends on the family. I think that in earlier times African Americans originally felt a connection to there heritage because they were slaves who had all of there rights taken away. I believe that they held on to there heritage because it was something that could give them hope.
ReplyDeleteEquality today is not as much as an issue as it was back then. I believe that weather or not people in general want to keep there heritage is ultimately up to them.
Not only do I think it depends on the family, I think it depends on the environment around the individual and the individual themselves. If the environment around a person is rich in culture, they would be influenced to perhaps bring this culture into their lives. I think that times do change and heritage does mean different things in different time periods, but I think it depends on individuality and pride. I do agree with Katie and Lauren about family values and traditions, but in this age, we are more rebellious and willing to create a life of our own. I think heritage and culture has somewhat slipped the minds of the youth in the 21st century and other things occupy our time and thoughts. I just think that culture can be adapted into anyone's life, but it depends on the individual themselves, and whether they are willing to accept their family history into their lives.
ReplyDeletei agree with jayme. i think that this issue depends on the family and the individual. some people care a lot about their culture because they are surrounded by it and it truly speaks to them. i think that people will keep in touch with their heritage if they feel a sense of connection to it. as we saw in class when people did their free writes, different people felt differently about their heritage and how much they believed it affected them
ReplyDeleteAfter a couple of generations, I think that everybody integrates in the country they live in and forget about their origins. So I would say that African Americans relate way more to America than Africa today.
ReplyDelete