Soul In The Heart Of America

African American Culture Blog *No ADOS/FBA/Hotep/ETC

[newjackamericana]

Hello!

My name is Yen and I made this blog as a journey to learn more about my culture.

Since I was little I always thought that people in my community were in the “middle”. Yes we have a shared and unified identity that attaches us together but I never really saw it as “culture”.

I now know with a lot of research that in fact it was not a lack of culture- but a lack of knowledge.

I was inspired by so many identities from all around the world showing unashamed love and and dedication to their ethnic/national identity and it shamed me for what I took for granted.

Initially I tried to look for others that are as passionate as me but their seems to be a political movement that birthed hostility and bigotry that I didn’t like. I want to praise my people without hate or negativity. I’ve rarely learned surface level information from places like this.

So I’ve decided to start a blog dedicated to my love and dedication on my own terms. I’d love if anyone apart of the African American ethnic group would love to pitch in any regional tradition that is lost, revived, or just plain common in your area to this blog.

Let’s celebrate together!

-Yen

[itsexclusive]

[newjackamericana]

Today’s Google doodle.

[newjackamericana]

Happy Juneteenth! Hope y’all are eating your red food and going to rodeos on this Texan born holiday!

[newjackamericana]

The Head Tie After Slavery. Unpleasant Reminder of The Past. - Rene Holiday

When slavery ended the head tie was no longer enforced by law. Black women were now told they needed to conform to European standards of bea

I had wanted to revisit an article about head coverings in African American culture. It really helped me with the understanding of why our community looked down on bonnets and head ties. I’ve never understood why something we used to wear outside as both adornment and protection from the sun was considered in-house cloth over the years.

This basically sums up everything:

“When slavery ended, black woman were no longer bound by law to wear head ties. They were seen as reminders of the horrifies of slavery. The head tie was looked down upon. The older Black women continued to wear their head ties. For them, the head tie was a way to still be connected to Africa. The younger Black women wanted nothing to do with the head tie. They were embarrassed by them and they were reminders of their lives in servitude.”

Can you imagine getting out of slavery and still wearing “slave cloth”? Of course they looked at it as wanting to be looked at as civilized and neat. And what was the closed (and the only excepted ) clothes that fit that bill? The clothes white people wear.

I found it admirable that a lot of the elders kept wearing them because of the connection with Africa, I thought the same thing.

Funny enough when those coverings were making a comeback it was as sleep wear/ hair care and stayed like this since the 70’s till now.

I do remember an effort of two women to wear bonnets as outside casual wear unfortunately they were met with disapproval but I liked the attempt (trying to find the picture of them, if I can I’ll update the post).

I’m not saying sleep wear has to be gone but, I would like to see a separate more decorated versions of the bonnets and head tie. I’d love to see some traditional patterns and jewelry on them that stands out.

As I see it it’s a reclamation of our history and a symbol of pride!

-Yen

[newjackamericana]

African American culture-Rice Dishes

Gullah red rice

Creole Dirty rice

Jambalaya

Louisiana red rice

Hoppin John

Carolina Gold

[newjackamericana]

Happy (belated) Juneteenth!

[newjackamericana]

Okay I don’t know if this is my own little pet peeve but I’m seeing a new found interest in prom send off’s that I don’t like. I believe it started as a culture war last year with SA TikTok and Black American TikTok, basically degrading the girls outfits and dragging them over the internet.

Then it morphed into a classist issue among black Americans because they just assumed that the black kids who participated in prom send off’s couldn’t afford it, and are “living above their means”. Plus an additional discussion about if prom send off is even traditional because people don’t understand regional traditions.

Now, this fashion contest that will seem like it’s becoming a yearly thing where grown adults basically bash teenagers about their outfits. I swear we’re the only group of people that is so weird about taking care of our kids. Just think if this happened to a quinceañera or bat mitzvah? I couldn’t imagine because every time I’ve see news of those events their being uplifted and respected.

Maybe I’m generalizing a bit much but I’m tired of stuff like this. It was okay when we were defending kids from SA TikTok but what happened? Why do we make sure our kids have to fight in order to have fun?

[newjackamericana]

African American culture-Swept Yards

“A swept yard is a lawn-free style of front garden that has its roots in West Africa. The ideas made their way to the American South due to the slave trade. They were maintained to be weed and debris free with handmade stick brooms.

The yard was also the heart of the home since the inside quarters were not cooled and much of the work of living took place outside.”

In Georgia's Swept Yards, a Dying Tradition (Published 1993)

In Georgia's Swept Yards, a Dying Tradition (Published 1993)

Landscape Ideas from African American Swept garden of the Southern USA   

The African American swept garden of the Southern USA are worth studying. The swept yard was originally the garden style of plantation slave

[newjackamericana]

African American culture- Regional Gospel

*A Twitter thread I mentioned yesterday about the regional differences in black American gospel.

[newjackamericana]

Hey! I’ve been trying to find a very in depth Twitter post about the different types of African American church sounds and I don’t remember the posters name all I know is they were talking about regional differences around the US. If you know what I’m talking about, please submit!

-yen

[newjackamericana]

African American culture-wedding traditions

Jumping the broom

Displaying Familial Wedding Photos

Crossing Sticks

Libation Ceremony

BGLO Fraternity and Sorority Serenading and Stroll

* If you would like to include any more regional practices for this subject please do not be scared to contribute!

[newjackamericana]

I really want to do some contest around the subject of my blog but I don’t think I have enough people interested in the blog yet to hold those kinds of contest so I’ll just wait.

-yen

[newjackamericana]

African American Culture- Head Coverings

Durag

Bonnet

Tignon

Head tie

Church Hat

*If you would like for me to make a regional part two for this please let me now and submit any suggestions!

[newjackamericana]

African American culture- folk tales

[newjackamericana]

I see that my post have been gaining traction and I would like to let it be known that this is an African American blog. Though I do love the things that we have in common in the diaspora, this is specifically for a certain ethnic group.

I would also like to point out the description, I don’t allow revisionist history, political-right think tanks or hoteps on this blog. Your welcome to share valid historical documents , family accounts or historically accurate videos . That is all! Thank you for reading.

-yen

[newjackamericana]

I definitely want to start making black American holiday post! I love seeing so many traditions that we have that are “disappearing”, (aka enjoyed by a group in a state). Hopefully we can wake more things up in the culture.

-yen