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