Cultural Erasure, Retention and Renewal

A debate ensures on a proper definition of Africana and it extends to culture. There are discrepancies between various Africana Studies scholars on the exact definition. Wade Nobles, defined culture as “a general design for living and patterns for interpreting reality.” Based on the Kawaida Theory of culture, he describes culture as a “scientific construct” and explains it in a tertiary model. In the first two levels, it includes behaviors or patterns that are developed in reality. Furthermore, he defines the two levels; the primary consist of what he calls “cultural factors” and the secondary level as “cultural aspects”. The third level involves expressing the behaviors such as language or ideas. That is where the differences in culture can

There may be as many as 300,000 child soldiers, hopped-up on drugs and wielding AK-47s, in more than fifty conflicts around the world. Ishmael Beah used to be one of these child soldiers  , Ishmael Beah is a child who lived most of his childhood in the war   . He is one of the first to tell his story in his own words according to  http://www.alongwaygone.com/index.html and his memoir “A Long Way Gone”. The war had made ishmael have perseverance  in the long run , inference that he was brainwashed by the war and that ishmael was a very hopeful child always wishing for better days.

The majority of these practices were location specific. Only by being on their country could these practices could be upheld. So with this in mind, traditional country can be seen as the base of not only lifestyle and cultural practices, but also identity.

In understanding the importance of cultural continuance is it necessary to understand its connection and direct relationship to Canada’s long history of colonialization. Although western art places Indigenous history within in a complete pre-contact lens, Indigenous art and histories are connected and shaped by both pre-contact and post-contact worldviews which have influence and shaped various works and understandings. Yet, one significant separation between settler and Aboriginal world views that is important to notes in the role of cultural continuation is the difference to the linear event based view of history that western society is predicated on. As opposed to many Indigenous nations view of history as always within motion, not static

Cultures should be preserved so that they are able to be passed down throughout different generations, especially as passing down information is one probable and important key to the survival of any culture. To accomplish the preservation of culture through transmission, change seems like an essential to cultural survival, instead of a potential enemy. In his TED talk, Davis (2003) asserts that “The Sioux Indians did not stop being Sioux when they gave up the bow and arrow anymore than Americans stopped being American when they gave up the horse and buggy” (14:46 – 14:54). Davis’s statement highlights the idea that change is always occurring, especially with the introduction of new technologies, and that specific individual traditions or ways in a culture do not make up the entirety of the culture. Rather, I think that culture revolves around the spirit and collective traditions of a group of people. For example, Davis (2003) mentions the story of a man’s grandfather creating a sleigh and weapons out of little material and describes the story as an example of the people’s “resilience” (18:50 – 19:56). Davis uses the practices of a people to explain their values, and in turn, to communicate their

Culture is one of the most relevant elements that can define not only a society but also a country’s cumulative beliefs and system. Often noted as the origins of a country, culture is definitive in the sense that it harbors all the elements that can provide justification on the traditions and norms set by the society for its members. More often than not, the society members follow norms in order to create a harmonious community, and the beliefs and the traditions serve as the poles or grounding rules for each member to follow. Culture is very dynamic in the way that it can change over a variety of foreign influences but what is permanent about it is that original elements about it often lingers with the influences, therefore making it multi-faceted and broad. More importantly, culture serves as an individual and unique trait each society has, and therefore sets it apart from other countries and other societies.

Several factors affect the formation of one’s culture, Palispis, E. (2007) quoted Sir Edward Tylor, “Culture… refers to that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as member of society.” (Palispis, E., 2007) In this context culture is something we acquire from the people we have lived with since we were born, it is not something a person can learn overnight nor can be disposed effortlessly.

Every kid in her age is excited to go to school except this little African American girl. She hates going to school and being isolated from others. Everyone does not want to become her friends or even talk to her not because she made any mistakes, but because she was born in a different race. Races by definition are groups of people who have common histories and are genetically and culturally related. America for decades has promoted diversity and welcomed all ethnics around the globe. However, it does not mean that race is not a sensitive issue anymore. By seeing numerous racisms and divisions occur today, race in America still matters.

Developing countries are home to over 90% of the donkey population. Animals useful for carrying people and loads of tool, goods, etc. became significant after humans learned to domesticate animals for food purposes. Donkeys provided a way for goods to be transported easier and faster. Donkeys used for work are exposed to agricultural habitats. Horses and camels were often used to carry things, but donkeys were particularly useful because they were smaller, more durable, and easier to handle and feed. Domestic donkeys are smaller than wild ones due to selective breeding. They also have tinier and less tough foot bones. The largest numbers of working donkeys are found in Africa, Asia, and Latin America (Marshal et al.,

There is a Mexican man that enters with the rest of his family. They eat beans, rice, flour tortillas and etc. The family does there every day routine, the dad wakes up at six- thirty to go to work in his truck. The children go to school and the mother stays at home. The things a person does in their all has a reason which goes all back to culture. Culture is what makes up everyone different from one another. Texts such as “What is Cultural Identity?”, “Where Worlds Collide” and “Two ways to Belong” supports that depending on one’s culture it effects one perspective on the world and others.

Culture is a large part of every person’s life, it is what makes each person unique. Within culture there are many aspects such as food, music, clothing, tradition, and many more. Since culture makes up such a large part of our day to day lives, it is almost always responsible shaping and informing our view on the world.

The resurrection hope for African Caribbean people begins not with a greater accessibility of material goods, consumer durables, or acquisition of increased amounts, more money etc., but rather commences in the minds of our people.

People from Eastern Cape, New Zealand, and South Dakota, who were colonized tried to revitalize their culture and reestablish their own identity with different movements that were originally created by rejecting forced acculturation. When these movements started to collapse, a new sense of cultural identity was born as these people were trying to

Burton (2015) in her Journal, ‘Globalisation and Cultural Identity in Caribbean Society: The Jamaican Case,’ however points out that Jamaica has a unique culture and this has shaped how that countries adapts to the effects of colonialism and even globalisation.

Culture is the totality of learned, socially transmitted customs, knowledge, material objects, and behavior. It includes ideas, values, and artifacts of groups of people (Schaefer, 2006). Understanding culture can be tricky, ever ask “why do people act the way they do?”, “what made me do that”, “what was I thinking?” Physical abilities, educational background, and social background of how I was raised are important aspects of my life. The environment in which I was raised is very important aspect of my life.