African Cultural Retention

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that it is inaccurate to assume that there are no discernible African cultures left in the USA and that, because of the relatively small numbers of slaves bought to such a large country, all traces of African cultures were destroyed. The author points out that enslaved Africans from the same areas tended to be geographically situated together in the U.S. so that they were able to retain aspects of their individual cultures. The paper relates that Sheila Walker takes issue with the notion that European settlers "built" the U.S. and then imported some African slaves to perform manual labor for them. The paper underscores that she believes that the slaves bought to the U.S. were not ignorant, unskilled laborers but rather slave traders deliberately sought out people with skills, which the U.S. needed to help build the country.

Table of Contents:
False Assumptions
The Arguments of Sheila Walker

From the Paper:

"She also points out that Africans must have made a major contribution to American society, history and culture, given that they comprised the numerical majority for the duration of the modern history of the Americas, until 1820. For example, out of those coming to the USA in 1820, 3 out of 4 new arrivals were African, not European. With this kind of demographic weight, it follows that the contributions of African minds and cultural presence had to be an important ingredient in the very creation of the Americas. Walker also points out that Howard Dodson backs her up on this theory and that he believes that the transatlantic slave trade played a central, defining role in the making of the modern world."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Dodson, Howard. "The Transatlantic Slave Trade and the Making of the Modern World." African Roots/American Cultures: Africa in the Creation of the Americas. Ed. Sheila S. Walker. New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2001: 118-122.
• Kelley, Robin D. G. and Lewis, Earl, Eds. To Make Our World Anew: A History of African Americans. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.
• Rastafaritoday.com. "Dr. Sheila S. Walker: Hook Up, Link Up and Move Up!" 2002. Retrieved from http://www.rastafaritoday.com/sitefiles/walker.html
• Walker, Sheila S. (Ed). African Roots/American Cultures: Africa in the Creation of the Americas. New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2001.
• Walker, Sheila S. "Everyday Africa in New Jersey: Wonderings and Wanderings in the African Diaspora." African Roots/American Cultures: Africa in the Creation of the Americas. Ed. Sheila S. Walker. New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2001: 45-80.

More papers on African Cultural Retention:

• Analytical Essay # 132356 : "African Cultural Retention and Destruction"
• Cause and Effect Essay # 102439 : "African Cultural Retention"
• Analytical Essay # 132303 : "African Culture and African Americans"

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