Artifact#1 Personal Cultural Project

Felicia Evans

Before America
Africas beautiful landscape was dotted with villages of people and livestock. The
people had learned to master their land and resources around them to survive.
Each village has appointed elders, teachers, and men of war along with spiritual
healers and midwives. The village would run effortlessly as everyone from
children to old women had a share in the work that sustained the village. The
villages was represented by a king who was backed by the appointed men of war.
The people valued culture greatly, the dances, singing, celebrations, and
storytelling was combined with their daily chores creating a break from the
monotony. Dances often include male and female; singing and music came from
all sorts of unique instruments creating vibrant sounds. Drums were commonly
used in war to warn others of impending threats or to rally fellow soldiers and
allies in battle.

Before America continued

War was always eminent during these times, as kingdoms squared off in a greedy
mad grab of land, water and food resources as riches begin to accumulate from the
trade that begin the Spanish and Europeans. Guns and gun powder along with
spice which was a hot commodity for the people. The mixture of greed and
military strategy led the superior kingdoms to begin selling and trading their
prisons of war along with innocent victims such as children as young as 8 or 9
snatching them off the street. The selling of slaves to the English and Spanish
were big business for African kingdoms during that time. Never the less, many
captured was ripped away from everything and everyone they had known.

Journey to America
During the middle 1500s the first black servant was brought over from Britain.
They were bound by the traditional servitude contract of the day which was 3-7
years of service to someone or a family. This usually was in return for the cost of
the trip to America. The servants freed from their contract were allowed to build
their homes, stores, and businesses and own land. Fast forward to the mid 1700s
were more than over 400,000 Africans had been traded or sold as slaves not
servants. These were people who did not voluntarily go to America, they were
forced through capture. In addition, laws regarding slavery begin to change and
the English declared the determination of slaves was not based on prisoners of war
but on skin color. This was based on the principal that white men should no longer
willfully enslave each other. This also fueled the slave trade.

During Slavery
In America however, the black slaves were terrorized, oppressed, mutilated and

killed for being black. They were not treated or thought of as human by their masters
nor were there any civil rights afforded them. Doctors would use slaves in their
medical experiments without the permission of the subject. Women and girls were
considerably susceptible to violence as sexual violations were rampant among what
was considered as only property not people. Although, this was the reality of the day
black slaves became the most trusted companions of their slave masters. Africans
learned to adapt to their new surroundings often offering advice, protection and
companionship to their owners. They would be in charge of things such as nursing
and raising their children, to preparing and serving all the food in the house and for
the slaves in the field. Black slaves often considered to be traitors were placed in
overseer positions to keep other black slaves in line and the master in the loop on
what is being said or planned amongst the slaves.

During Slavery continued

During this time the black culture was slowly being pieced to together in a foreign
country away from your loved ones. In addition, the constant threat of harm or
violence they lived under every day. Caused them to sing songs and dance to express
joy or the turmoil in their souls. Their identity, culture and language they knew when
they arrived has been forcefully removed by their owners in advocating their melting
pot theory. The slaves were expected to fully assimilate however, with limited
understanding as they were not to conduct themselves as whites but as the slave
the master groomed. The culture of African slaves was hidden from view from their
slave owners. Slaves created their own ways of passing information along to each
other using songs, drums, and language formation. Slaves in Brazil reported created
a form of self-defense called Capoeira. This was martial arts disguised by dancing
fooling the overseers in the sugar plantations giving themselves skills to strike back
when oppression just becomes too much.

After Slavery
In 1872 President Lincoln signed the Proclamation Emancipation freeing all slaves
from bondage and changing the operations of America. However, the sentiment of
the majority never ceased as freed slaves began to build and create lives after the
abolishment of slavery building their own schools, hospitals, and stores to provide
much needed services. In addition, homes were being built on unencumbered land
and things seem to be looking up for the slaves. However, Jim Crow laws were put
in place to replace the old slave legislation. Under Jim Crow each state made it
illegal for blacks to own homes, businesses, cars, and eat at white only restaurants
or travel to some towns due to being black. Only to bring them back to the reality
that no matter what they did or what law is signed they were not going to really be
free.

After Slavery continued

The lynching, burning, mutilation and murdering of blacks young and old, male or
female created an environment based on fear and severe oppression. Blacks during
this time flourished despite outside social factors. The Harlem Renaissance Era
after the turn of the century showcased blacks from all different principles. In
writing you had pioneers such as, Langston Hughes, Zora Neal Hurston; in music
Sarah Vaughn and Duke Ellington. Dancers such as Josephine Baker set fashion
trends for black and white women of her time. In addition, business women such
as Madame C. J. Walker who became a millionaire during this time by inventing
the pressing comb which is still widely used today. This time was turbulent but
the people found a way to deal with it by using creative expression to paint who
they were.

Sub Cultures
During this times as America went through changes in its immigrant population, sub cultures were
created. My paternal grandfather was born from a African slave and a Cajun plantation owner.
This unique combination of genes enhances African American culture by blending European
physical features, language, and food influences. Cajuns were originally from Acadia in Nova
Scotia, Canada and beginning in 1755 they were exiled to America by the English who conquered
their land. The food of this subculture consisted of stews and soups with seafood, beef or chicken
along with a unique cooking technique of blackening fish or chicken. My maternal grandfather is
of Creole descent. Creole people are a mixture of African, Spanish and French who lived
specifically in Louisiana after the Louisiana Purchase by the French. The mixing of these cultures
included pledging allegiance to the French or Spanish regimes, speaking French or Spanish along
with English. These languages over time begin to melt into one creating a language of its own
among Creole people. Creole food is spicy and consists of fresh seafood and shellfish fished from
nearby bayous and fresh herbs and vegetables. These are normally prepared in soup or stew style
dishes prepared over rice. Black Creoles were also instrumental in the creation of the Civil Rights
Movement do to their political ties.

Civil Rights Movement and My

Culture
The civil rights Movement was birthed from the atrocities of the Jim Crow Era.
During these harsh time their faith was the only thing that kept them going.
Plantation owners were upset when white Christian evangelist would go through
the South telling the slaves what the bible truly said they were able to convert
many slaves to Christianity. Up until this time the slaves were not allowed to learn
to read and therefore was unaware of what was in the bible. When the evangelists
showed up they brought to the slaves and their descendants a belief that would not
be able to be stopped even by the oppressors of the day. This belief system would
carry forth from generation to generation and can still be seen today in African
American culture.

Civil Rights Movement and My

Culture continued
Faith in African American culture has only thrived since its beginning long ago in
plantations. Religion was and is still used as a basis on the standards of daily living, morals,
and social norms. Church is one of the few places where African Americans can go and be
themselves. During slavery days church was seen as the meeting place or crisis center if
you will. This is where blacks of any town would gather to plan and strategize solutions to
the issues they were facing. Even in the 1960s during the Civil Rights Movement church
was the place where people gathered to talk about, plan and strategize their next plans of
action as trouble arises. This was the place where weddings, funerals, and blessings
occurred. The pastor was seen as an integral part of the community often acting as their
political leader as well as, spiritual guide. Today, I and a majority of my family spend a lot
time in church or doing activities surrounding our Christian faith. Monthly we hand out
food and hygiene bags to the homeless and hold youth interventions to assist my
community. In addition, I enjoy teaching part time in our Sunday School and Bible Study
departments. I also enjoy reading, singing, and listening to music, and reading novels.

African Descendants Today

continued
In light of our turbulent past and history in America it is easy to see that we have a
unique cultural composition. Gospel hymns greatly contributed to American folk
songs, and Soul food is regarded as one of the most appetizing delicious menus
created in America to this day. Also, today African American culture is often
imitated in movies, film, music, media and print. Black entertainers and athletes
make more money today than ever could have been imagined by someone like
Duke Ellington or Jackie Robinson sixty to seventy years ago. In addition, Barak
Obama being elected the first black president ever in Americas history I believe
have shifted black culture to include politics which has been missing since the end
of the Civil Rights Movement following the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
Malcolm X, and subsequent fall of Huey P. Newton.

The Person
I was born in the late seventies going into the eighties. The culture of America had
changed a it from the hectic era of the war in Vietnam and Korea. Blacks were
joining the teaching and military ranks influencing my ideas on what careers are
possible for young black females. In addition, the age of computers begin with
Apple computers showing up in junior high school. The invention of video games
such as the Nintendo, cassette players, and VCRs were all popular as I was
growing up. This allowed me to easily assimilate into todays culture of computer
based everything. The car phone to pager to cell phone use has completely
eliminated the land lines I would spend hours talking to friends in school. During
this time I have experience the Desert Gulf War, Rodney King Riots, and
eventually September 11th. Now to the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. I am still old
fashioned and conservative on a lot of things such as parenting, marriage,
injustices, and dating behaviors. Seeing all of these things make me value the
importance of family and faith. I rely on these things when the world becomes too
much.

Views
My views on the world has gone through some changes as I have
gotten older. Looking back on my history and learning more about
where I come from has caused me to see now how strong and
indestructible people before went through a lot so I could be here
today taking this class. Also, my desire to reach out and help others
has increased as well as, my curiosity for learning about other cultures.
However, I am accepting the fact that others try their best with what
they know how. No one is perfect nor have the perfect background you
can and if you can help, help but always have compassion on others.

Goals
My short term goals will be to complete my bachelors degree in Special Education
in the next 3-5 years. Then secure a tenured teaching position with my credentials.
In addition, I would like to be a homeowner again and have a successful liturgical
teaching ministry.
My long terms goals are to have all of my children complete college, philanthropy
and to purchase a vacation home in the country for my family and put money in the
bank for retirement.