What Currently Defines African American Culture?

African American culture can be regarded as bothexpression dates as far back as the slavery days
part of, and distinct from American culture. Fromwhen African Americans also used song
the days of the slave trade, Africans and Africancomposition as a vehicle of social relief. They
Americans have contributed by means ofwould compose songs in their native languages
literature, art, agricultural skills, foods, music, andthat described their emotions regarding the
language to American culture. Even before thesituation they were subjected to, their slave
abolition of slavery, African Americans weremasters and the evolution of their lives.
known for their cultural ingenuity. Although inIf one has the means to study these musical
many cases they were literally forced to adoptgenres which define African American culture
and mimic the traditions of their slave masters,today, it will become quite evident that these
African American slaves would still clandestinelysongs serve as a reminder that the past and the
practice their beliefs. Today, perhaps the mostpresent are clearly linked when it comes to
definitive form of African American culture can beunderstanding the meanings of African American
seen through their expression of the musical artmusic. The emphasis on language clearly illustrates
form.how African-American communities have defined
The forms of music that best typify Africanthemselves and their relations to the dominant
American culture are those of Hip Hop, Rap,white culture in America. In fact many of the
Blues, R&B and Gospel. Many people shrug offlyrics in African American music seek to
these forms of music as noisy garbage; however,investigate the relationships the white community
they are in truth an expression of political, socialhas shared with African Americans for several
or class discrimination of some form. This form ofgenerations until today.