African American Cultural Diversity - Research Paper Example

? Diversity Paper Diversity Paper The growth and development of culture is indebted to different societies and ethnic groups in the world. To be specific, cultural diversity accelerates the development of human society in general. Within this context, the Black/African American cultural diversity is indebted to the characteristics of different ethnic groups in Africa and the spread of the same to the mainland of America. One can see that the racial characteristics and religious belief of the Black/African Americans helped them to survive in America as a remarkable ethnic group. On the other side, the form of government/politics, adaptability to educational reforms and family structure of the Black/African American ethnic group eventually led them towards progress. Thesis statement: The research work on the Black/African American cultural diversity, racial characteristics, religious belief, and the form of government/politics, educational reforms and family structure proves that all these factors help the Black/African American ethnic group to assimilate into the core of American society. Diversity and Black/African American cultural diversity One can simply define diversity, especially cultural diversity, as the unique quality of a cultural group. Besides, diversity related to culture within a group is considered as a valuable contribution to the cultural diversity of the world. In addition, cultural diversity is not a closed entity because it accepts change in the global context. When the term diversity is superimposed into the context of Black/African American cultural diversity, one can see that Black/African American cultural diversity absorbed the characteristics of African and American cultures. Freeman (1998) opines that, “Family relationships, group social interaction, support, and achievement have historically been a part of African American culture” (p.34). During the age of slavery and forced labor, the Black/African Americans provided less importance to their culture because they were treated as mere slaves. When they gained socio-political and cultural freedom in the American society, they came to realize the fact that they must regain their cultural characteristics. Within this context, community life in America strengthened the bond among different ethnic groups from Africa. So, Black/African American cultural diversity is inherited from African culture. At the same time, the young Black/African Americans are totally exposed to a different culture in the host nation. But they too were ready to accept their African ancestry, and tried to link the same with the American culture. So, the Black/African American cultural diversity is the byproduct of the amalgamation of African and American cultures in general. Race and Black/African American race The term race can be simply defined as the mode of social categorization disregarding one’s genetic origin. So, race is the mode to categorize human beings into certain groups with common ancestry and cultural characteristics. In some societies, one’s racial identity leads to the supremacy in the mainstream society. On the other side, in racially biased societies, one’s racial identity hinders one’s upward mobility to the upper strata of the society. Within this scenario, the minority population from the African nations in America is generally termed as Black/African American race. Naylor (1998) opines that, “The current label of African-American is a compromise label that is the result of many years of struggle within the Black American group and encompasses much more than the simple identification of a racially based group with a common point of origin in Africa” (p.128). As mentioned earlier, the racial identity of the Black/African Americans is limited to their ancestral lineage as the immigrant population from Africa. Earlier, the racial identity of the Black/African American limited their development in the society. But their involvement in mass movements and protests like Civil Rights Movement helped them to be in the forefront of development. So, one can easily identify the fact that racial identity was a barrier for the Black/African Americans to attain development. Now, the multiracial characteristics of the American society help the Black/African Americans to gain more importance in the society. Explanation: Black/African American religious belief One can see that the African religious belief is an amalgamation of different religious traditions in the African continent. Evans (2008) states that, “The interpretation of what it meant to be naturally religious was being transformed and refined even as blacks held onto the relatively benign romantic view of African American religion” (p.103). At the same time, one cannot define the African religious tradition as a single entity because the same absorbed unique characteristics of different religions like Christianity and Islam. The traditional religious belief in Africa is interconnected with the spiritual traditions of different racial groups. The Africans who were forced to migrate to America were not ready to discard their spiritual traditions. But the influence of missionaries resulted in the conversion of the majority of Black/African Americans into Protestantism. Besides, the origin of black churches deeply influenced the popularity of Christianity among the Black/African Americans. During the initial stages of the immigration to the mainland of America, African spiritual traditions and religious beliefs deeply influenced the Black/African American population. Gradually, cultural difference in the host nation (say, America) influenced the Black/African American religious belief. So, the origin of black churches deeply influenced the Black/African American religious belief. Within this context, Baptist belief is most popular among the Black/African Americans. Besides, some of the Black/African Americans are Roman Catholics, Pentecostals and Jehovah's Witnesses. But this division does not hinder the urge of the Black/African Americans to co-operate with the dominant race in the society. For instance, the white Protestant communions accepted the Black/African Americans as the part of their community. This co-operation and cohesion is important for an ethnic group to survive in a host nation because differences in cultural and religious belief generally act as barriers. But one must not misunderstand that all the Black/African Americans follow Christian faith. Some of the Black/African slaves happened to reach America were the followers of Islamic faith due to the influence of the Islamic states in the Middle East Asia. Gradually, the life in America transformed the religious faith of the slaves. Later, in the 20th century, some of the Black/African Americans became under the influence of Islamic organizations like Nation of Islam, and converted to Islamic faith. In the present condition, most of the Black/African American Muslims follow Sunni faith. On the other side, some other Black/African Americans follow Judaism. Besides, these Jews are affiliated to Jewish major groups like Black Hebrew Israelites. So, one can see that religious belief does not hinder the progress of the spiritual tradition of the Black/African Americans. Instead, religious belief acts the role of a unifying factor that binds the Black/African Americans into a well-knit minority group. In addition, religious belief reinforces the ethnic identity of the Black/African Americans in America. Black/African American government/politics The Black/African American involvement/presence in the American government/politics is interconnected with the Black/African American effort to gain political rights in the society. Nunnally (2012) makes clear that, “Put simply, blacks should be more distrusting in social (and political) contexts than are other racial groups, with greater wariness in their interactions with non-blacks, especially whites” (p.155). To be specific, the Black/African American struggle to gain socio-economic rights in the society eventually led to their presence in the national politics of America. In the initial stages, the Black/African American leaders and social reformers provided importance to personal liberty and social rights. Later, they came to realize the fact that political rights, especially the right to vote, can help them to be in the forefront of development. In the present condition, Black/African American community is generally considered as an important vote bank in the national politics of America. During the Civil Rights Movement and Restoration Era, the Black/African Americans fought to gain political rights. The political rights enjoyed by the Black/African Americans are the end result of a number of mass movements and political agitations. One can see that segregation and discrimination based on skin color and racial identity hindered the development of the Black/African Americans. But they tired their level best to change their non-presence in the political scenario of America. Naylor (1997) states that, “The goals, strategies, and tactics of the civil rights movement were preceded by a long tradition of political work by African-Americans” (p.150). The implementation of the Civil Rights Act (1964) is an important milestone within the Black/African American attempt to end inequalities in the American society. On the other side, Emancipation Proclamation filled the Black/African American minds with the hope of a bright future. Besides, the Black/African Americans were aware of the fact that racial segregation is hindering their progress. So, their agitation against racial segregation aimed to gain importance in the political context of the American society. Within the Black/African American politics, the life stories of Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Malcolm X, Carl Stokes, and Carol Moseley-Braun are noteworthy. To be specific, the success of these political leaders and social reformers inspire the Black/African Americans. Besides, the success of Black/African Americans in American politics proves that they can play an important role in the national politics. So, one can see that the readiness shown by the Black/African Americans to change themselves according to the changes in the national politics of America is an important factor behind their success as a vote bank. Black/African American education The growth and development of Black/African Americans is indebted to the rights gained by them in the mainstream society. To be specific, the Black/African American leaders and social reformers were aware of the fact that education can help them to be in the forefront of development. But slavery hindered the Black/African Americans from entering the realm of education. King (2005) states that, “Through Jim Crow and inadequately resourced segregated schools, African Americans struggled to make education a tool to support community political empowerment and economic advancement for families” (p.46). Later, the establishment of educational institutions secured the education of the Black/African American youngsters. For instance, the Institute for Colored Youth (say, established in the year 1837) inaugurated educational reform among the Black/African Americans. The effort to establish separate educational institutions helped the Black /African Americans to keep away themselves from segregation and marginalization. Within this context, the Wilberforce University and the law school under Howard extended the scope of proper education for the Black /African Americans. On the other side, the initiative undertaken by the Black /African American leaders and social reformers like Booker T. Washington and Frederick Douglass helped the youngsters to realize the importance of education in their lives. Later, the American society witnessed the amalgamation of Black /African American students and the students from the dominant race. The creation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (1960) is such an important initiative to discard racial segregation and marginalization faced by the Black /African American students. So, the initiatives undertaken by the Black /African American leaders and social reformers deeply influenced the future progress of the Black /African Americans in general. Within this scenario, Black /African American women provide more importance to education. Besides, the proper utilization of the educational opportunities helped the Black /African Americans to deal with the problem of illiteracy. Now, Black /African Americans enjoy more educational rights and are aware of their roles in the society. So, the gradual development from gaining freedom to educational opportunities constitutes the overall development of Black /African Americans from segregation and marginalization to the realm of development. Black/African Americans and their family structure The cultural diversity deeply influences the African family structure in general. To be specific, tribal life provides ample importance to womanhood and motherhood. At the same time, patriarchy exerts undeniable influence on the African family structure, but does not neglect the importance of women. So, the proper balancing between patriarchy and matriarchy is the characteristic of African family structure. On the other side, the Black/African American families provide ample importance to womanhood and motherhood. Jewell (1989) makes clear that, “In fact, the debate over whether black families are matriarchal and the extent to which they confirm to the traditional nuclear family continues more than twenty years later” (p.12). During the era of slavery, the Black/African American women used to serve the dominant race as housemaids. After gaining freedom from slavery, Black/African American women played an important role in sustaining their families. Within this context, Black/African American womanhood is closely related to motherhood and motherly tenderness. Gradually, women began to dominate the Black/African American families. To be specific, the Civil Rights Movement impoverished Black/African American families and the Black/African American women were forced to play dual roles in their private and public circles. They were forced to sustain their families by acting the roles of breadwinners. This rapid transformation helped the Black/African American women to gain more respect and attention in their public domains. This importance gained by Black/African American women within their families can be considered as development of African family structure in a different cultural context. One can see that the domination gained by the womenfolk in the Black/African American families positively influenced their family structure. For instance, Black/African American women were interested in the proper socialization of their children. They were forced to go beyond the traditional roles played by them in their private circles. The traditional African American families provided ample importance to the individual roles played by men and women in their private circles. The new role played by the Black/African American women is not so different from their traditional roles. So, the domination and importance gained by the Black/African American women can be considered as the influence of the unique structure of African families on African American families. Special /unique information on Black/African American culture The most important information about the Black/African American culture is that the same acts as a unifying factor that binds different religious beliefs and cultural characteristics into a single unit. To be specific, the Black/African Americans do not consider the American culture as a threat to their cultural and ethnic identity. Instead, they are aware of the fact that their role in the mainstream society is to accept the positive elements of the multicultural characteristics of the society. This positive attitude towards cultural amalgamation proves that Black/African American culture provides ample importance to co-operation among different cultures in a multicultural context. Besides, the Black/African Americans are aware of their socio-cultural and political rights in the society. At the same time, they consider themselves as the integral part of the mainstream society in America. Summing, the Black/African American cultural diversity is the by-product of the amalgamation of the African spiritual traditions and the American culture. Besides, the racial characteristic of the Black/African Americans is deeply indebted to the racial diversity in Africa. The difference in religious belief among the members of the Black/African American community proves that this difference acts the role of a unifying factor among them. Earlier, the Black/African Americans were not aware of their role in the national politics and their political rights in the society. But now, the situation is different and the Black/African Americans play the role of an important vote bank in the American political context. The educational reforms exert positive influence on the upward mobility of the Black/African American community. The unique structure of the Black/African American families, especially the importance given to the female folk in their private and public domains, exert positive influence on the Black/African American community. In short, all these unique characteristics of the Black/African American ethnic group act the role of a unifying factor in a multiracial society. References Evans, C. J. (2008). The Burden of Black Religion. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Freeman, K. (1998). African American Culture and Heritage in Higher Education Research and Practice. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group. Jewell, K. S. (1989). Survival of the Black Family: The Institutional Impact of American Social Policy. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group. King, J. E. (2005). Black Education: A Transformative Research And Action Agenda For The New Century. Washington, DC: Psychology Press. Naylor, L. L. (1997). Cultural Diversity in the United States. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group. Naylor, L. L. (1998). American Culture: Myth and Reality of a Culture of Diversity. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group. Nunnally, S. C. (2012). Trust in Black America: Race, Discrimination, and Politics. New York, NY: NYU Press. Read More