Impact Of Creolization On African American Culture

Many Africans brought over during the Atlantic slave trade experienced creolization. Creolization is the mixing or blending of traditional African culture and the European culture of the white man in America. By blending these two cultures they were able to be acceptable as slaves while still preserving their own culture and identity. They brought their own style and flavor to such things as cuisine, music, and religion. Africans may have been forced to change their homes, but they never changed their hearts and held tight to their traditions and beliefs.

One of the things Africans brought along with them to the New World was their dance and music. Their unique style of music utilized alternating rhythms and drumming, crossed the ocean alongside them. An aspect of their religion was possession during dancing ceremonies and rituals, but it did not make it into African American slave culture due to certain rules of the masters. African music was composed of call and response methods which still influences genres of music today like rap and hip hop. Features of this influenced later things such as the Charleston dance during the roaring twenties and the square dance. This culture from halfway around the world is still affecting how we listen to and move to music even today.

African crops like okra, watermelon, yams, and sweet potatoes were brought over on slave trader ships and influenced recipes that slaves ate on plantations. Other crops were brought too and include black eyed peas and sorghum, a cereal crop. These crops were included in traditionally inspired dishes like gumbo and jumbalaya along with different forms of cooking including deep frying. Knowledge of how to grow rice and utilize tropical gardening methods were also West African practices that made their way to North American