what do you think about the modern african americans lack of cutural knowlegde about their own culture?

Answer 1

I'm [only] American so I don't know.

Answer 2

If you under some impression that you are culturally African you will find you are not. You may have some African ancestry but after a certain number of generations you will find you are more American than African. It would be a shamed to lose that. African Americans or Americans of color or a unique people very different from any Africans you will ever meet and that isn't a bad thing just different.

Answer 3

Im not sure, actually. I'm French, by the way. The thing is, you are more American than African. True, if I saw you, I'd probably know that you are of African origin (!). But sometimes, by always setting communities apart, people just add fuel to the fire. It IS important to learn about ALL of American history. But that shouldn't be true of black people only. It should also be the case for white people, don't you think.

What are you taught at school? Do you learn about the slave trade and slavery? And do you read black authors who talk about black culture? I think that everyone, black or white, should read about that. Because that's part of American history, not just black history.

Have you heard of the French film "Indigènes"? It's about Algerians who took part in WWII. I don't know if you know that, but we have a large population who comes from North Africa. The thing is, people can be quite a bit racist in France. And I think this film is great (haven't seen it yet) because of all the tensions in France. However, I think this is a part of history that should be taught at school, for ALL FRENCH PUPILS to know about.

Then, once you're out of high school, it's up to each person to decide to know more about history if they feel the need to know more.

Back to France: most French people of arab origin wouldn't want to go and live in North Africa, because France is their country, where they've always lived. The problem is that they haven't really been integrated (the white's fault, by the way), so it's true that some people find it difficult to adjust to France's cultural history. But I think that it would be better for them if France (through the educational system) underscored the fact that most (if not all) of the arabs who arrived in France right after WWII came because we asked them to. And if we were taught at school (for instance, in elementary school, when you can still have games and stuff like that) things about their culture (food, dance, traditions, folktales, etc.).

I'm not sure I made my point, as it is 2:30 am where I live! Basically, my point is: it's good to know about one's own culture, but you ARE American. And I think that African American history should be taught to everyone.

PS: hope you were not offended by "black" or "arab"; I don't talk PC!

Answer 4

I bet it is the same reason that you have in spelling words like 'cultural' and 'knowledge'.

We are all born ignorant. White, Black, Brown, Red or Yellow, we are all born just knowing hos to do two things: yell and suck.

Most people only know what others teach them. There are a few people who are intellectually curious and they make an effort to learn what they don't know.

This would be similar in attitude to people who use a spell checker or a dictionary.

If you aren't African American, how much do you know about all of your ancestors?

Answer 5

I think it's unfortunate when anyone (regardless of ethnicity/culture) has a lack of knowledge about their traditional culture. It's sad to let beautiful traditions and rich history die. Also, "to know where you're going, you need to know where you've been." At the same time, I think it's also important to learn about and embrace other cultural traditions since so many of us live in multicultural environments.

Answer 6

i am from a town where the population of African Americans are less than 10. We didn't have alot of black history, and i think that schools need to be more diverse in their teachings.
kids learn alot from their parents, if their parents were not taught, they in return won't be taught.

the problem starts up hill and slowly runs downward.

Answer 7

I think it's appalling. I hear alot of black kids using the "N" word and it makes me wonder if they really understand the history behind that word. Also, we need to be aware of the struggles our people went through for the future generations of blacks to be accepted as human beings and to have any opportunity to receive an education. I think it will help our kids to have more appreciation for things.

Answer 8

Simple, their parents probably don't teach them and they don't teach it in schools as far as I know. So, therefore, they have nobody to even tell them that their culture has a history. lol, I guess that's why, anyway, I hope this helped.

Answer 9

I think that if one does not know about their culture and it is different than the one that they actually live, the one they actually live is their culture and not some fanciful false image.
I am what I is.

Answer 10

I know that I should learn more myself, but sometimes it depresses me. I agree that some of us do have a lack of knowledge on certain matters.

Answer 11

In Public Schools they dont teach it...but that one month Feb and its always the same stuff Martin Luther King, Malcolm X.....no one else....