Double Consciousness and Materialism

Justin Smith

@02663263

Dr. Carr

Africana Studies

2/16/12

Cultural Preservation

Abstract:

The African diaspora across the American continents is caused by the enslavement of freed Africans. The Europeans enchained African citizens of many cultures, values, and beliefs. Forcing many different African backgrounds to come together and create their own identity and culture rather than fully conforming to the European lifestyle and beliefs. To remain in tune with their roots and resist enslavement they preserved their African culture through holding onto traditions and facets of their past.

Critical review of Scholarship:

When attempting to answer the question of How Africans preserved and affirmed their way of life under enslavement, I used a widespread amount of sources. Eloquence of the Scribes gave me a valid foundation on how the Africans reserved their culture. However I got my details on specific examples of African traditions through two key internet articles. Each article spoke about a tradition that transcended enslavement, such as the matrimonial action of jumping the broom and it roots. The other on African American oral traditions in New Orleans and how they originated in Africa.

Discussion:

The deep rooted African Culture stayed in each person heart through the many centuries of slavery. These individuals had no way of physically preserving their culture because of there in ability to learn to read and write. However they passed down knowledge through oral story telling. Storytelling has always been important in African-American culture. In Africa, people sang or chanted long oral narratives concerning gods, heroes, and demons (Saloy). Another concept embroided in the African American culture is jumping the broom.

Today "Broom Jumping" is a ritual, handed down from generation to generation to remind us of our past. During slavery, our ancestors were not allowed to legally marry. In order to resist that bond, enslaved Africans legitimized...