Creating African American Culture

This study guide covers the foundations of African American culture, focusing on the fusion of African, European, and Indigenous influences seen in crafts, music (especially the banjo and drums), and creole languages like Gullah. It explores African influences on American music, highlighting the adaptation of Christian hymns and the West African roots of the blues, particularly its connection to the fodet tradition. The guide emphasizes the multiple functions of spirituals, including expressing hardship and hope, facilitating resistance, conveying coded messages, and preserving African heritage. Finally, it provides a deep dive into required primary sources like a quilted bedcover, an excerpt from Frederick Douglass's My Bondage and My Freedom, a storage jar by David Drake, a gospel performance of "Steal Away to Jesus," and the song's lyrics. The guide concludes with exam tips and high-priority topics.