THE INFLUENCE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN POP CULTURE IN THE WORLD

AFRICAN AMERICAN POP CULTURE- Anita Sarkeesian once said, “the power of pop culture stories should not be underestimated and there is an enormous potential for inspirational stories that can have a positive transformative effect on our lives.” Black pop culture encompasses the whole of the black race but African American pop culture is often emphasized upon because it is embedded in the U.S. culture. The U.S. culture has in turn been consistently exported to the entire world for at least the last century.

One question that begs to be answered is this, what is African American pop culture?

Firstly African American pop culture is a culmination of all black cultures (existing and extinct) which pertain to entertainment, pleasure, and enjoyment. It depicts the identity and governance of black cultures with respect to each culture’s individual beliefs, experiences, values, and institutions. It is usually expressed in artistic genres and codes.

There are 8 factors which make African American pop culture distinct. They are:

1. What constitutes its people, arts, activities, objects, and events.

2. Everything that has to do with faith and religion, including religious objects and symbols.

3. The struggle for cultural emancipation, opposition, and controversies.

4. The kinds of materials produced and consumed as well as reproduced and distributed.

5. The nature of social fabrication.

6. The arrangement of signs and symbols.

7. Measures of communication.

8. How objects are made commodities, how these commodities become commercialized and how they are classified to a mental stereotype.

Evidently, the African American pop culture has gradually grown to set the tone not just on the American scene but to the world at large. All of these can be seen vividly in the kind of music produced, the movies, and even the use of social media. History has it that people of African descent have always displayed a forward-thinking mentality. This singular act has seen black culture unarguably influence the American folklore.

At this point, it is expedient to consider the different ways African American pop culture has influenced our world. A few of them are briefly described in the next few paragraphs.

INFLUENCE ON MUSIC

Almost every genre of music is credited to have been influenced in some way by African American pop culture. Of these, two genres stand out hip-hop/rap and R & B music. This influence did not begin in the 1950s or 1960s. It dates right back to the beginning of the Trans Saharan slave trade era. When black slaves were moved into the West from Africa. While working on the plantations they developed music styles which became gospel blues in later years.

As times passed the use of several instruments were adopted to develop new music genres. One of such new genres is jazz even though we could hardly state when it was born or who cultivated it. Jazz is recognized to have a mix of the musical culture of Black New Orleans and originative adaptability of blues. Between the 1950s and 1960s, several music groups and key individuals arose to become key influencers of what is today known as the gold standard for music worldwide. Some Africans still show resentment about the fact that blacks were not attributed the honors for inventing some forms of music we have today.

Fast forward to the present day and there is no gainsaying that every major form of music all over the world has been influenced by African American culture in one way or the other. This is just one example of how African American pop culture has been able to cut across country or race to create influence.

INFLUENCE ON DANCE

It will be impossible to separate dance from the African American pop culture. Dance has easily been a major language which not just blacks understand but has crossed cultures to become a universal language. Social dance has a history of over 200 years and was a way for slaves to unify and express inner freedom and keep African heritage alive while in bondage.

Blacks are credited with creating several genres of dance such as the tap dance, jazz dance, hip-hop, modern dance, to mention a few. Till date dance is still a major identifying yardstick at various levels. It is as simple as if you know the dance then you are part of the group. It is amazing how dances that originate from even unknown groups become universally accepted.

 INFLUENCE ON FASHION

It is almost impossible to discuss culture and not relate it to fashion. In fact “if culture was a piece of cloth then fashion is the thread that put it together.” African American fashion has indeed impacted the fashion industry all over the world with the birthing of unique styles which have grown to be notable. People of African descent are generally known to be a stylish sect and would not be caught dead looking bad.

This was evident right from the times of slavery when black slaves looked forward to Sunday Church services when y could adorn their best clothing. This element of style slopped to the periods when black seamstresses began creating fashion for the White Masters in grandeur. History shows that African American fashion has sort of a rebellious or political undertone, always going against the grain.

Today it has been observed that fashion has been used as a tool to make political statements. Black-owned businesses that are involved in developing style and fashion do not just appeal to African Americans but to every single race on the planet.

In conclusion, African American pop culture has been and will continually be a pacesetter influencing cultures all over the world. Michelle Obama said, “I view myself as being an average woman. While I am the first lady, I was not the first lady all my life. I am a product of pop culture. I am a consumer of pop culture and I know where it resonates with people.”