Black Culture Project You Will Have To Complete ✓ Solved

Black Culture Projectyou Will Have To Complete A Black Culture Project

Black Culture Projectyou Will Have To Complete A Black Culture Project

BLACK CULTURE PROJECT You will have to complete a Black Culture Project that is worth up to 100- points. In completing your Presentation, you will select a work of literature, poetry, music, or some other cultural work or form created or popularized from the colonial period to the end of the Reconstruction period (). You will present that cultural work and compare it to a work of black culture created within YOUR lifetime. The works do not have to share a form (i.e. a poem can be compared to a song; a painting can be compared to a sculpture, etc.). In presenting the works, you will need to provide a little bit of background information on your chosen works (i.e. when where the works created; who created them or made them famous; and, what impact did the works have on the cultural landscape when and since they first appeared?).

You will also have to briefly explain why you made those particular selections, and explain what you think each work tells people about congruencies and/or changes in the African-American experience from those eras. Create a 7 project that your cohorts and will find both impressive and informative. The more creative, interesting, organized, and informative your presentation is the higher your grade will be. If your presentation is disorganized, bland, and unimaginative, you should not expect a stellar grade.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The African-American cultural experience has been shaped profoundly by historical eras, including the colonial period, the Reconstruction era, and contemporary times. Analyzing works from these distinct periods reveals not only artistic progression but also deepens understanding of the evolving identities, struggles, and resilience of Black communities. This paper compares a selected colonial-era work of literature with a modern Black cultural work to explore continuities and changes in the African-American experience.

Historical Background of Selected Works

The colonial period in America was marked by the birth of African-American cultural expressions amidst the brutal realities of slavery and oppression. For this comparison, I selected Phillis Wheatley's poem "On Being Burchased" (1773), created during the colonial era, which exemplifies the early literary voice of enslaved Africans asserting their humanity and intellectual consciousness. Wheatley, America's first published Black poet, used her poetry to challenge prevailing stereotypes and advocate for dignity within a dehumanizing system (Johnson, 2012).

Contrasting this, I chose Beyoncé’s song “Formation” (2016), a modern cultural work that celebrates Black identity, resilience, and cultural pride. Released during a period of renewed activism, “Formation” emphasizes contemporary issues such as racial profiling, systemic inequality, and Black empowerment. Beyoncé, a globally influential artist, uses her platform to connect past struggles with present-day movements like Black Lives Matter (Sullivan, 2016).

Rationale for Selection

The selection of Wheatley's poem was driven by its significance as an early literary assertion of Black intellectual agency amid oppressive conditions. Its timeless themes of dignity and resistance resonate across centuries. Beyoncé’s “Formation” was chosen for its powerful affirmation of Black culture and its role in contemporary political discourse. Both works encapsulate pivotal moments: Wheatley’s voice in the colonial era and Beyoncé’s stance in the 21st century, illustrating the progression and enduring nature of Black cultural expression.

Analysis of Cultural Significance and Changes

Phillis Wheatley's poem embodies the early struggle to define Black intellectualism and challenge stereotypes during slavery. Her work subtly critiques the ideology that Black people lacked the capacity for education and artistic achievement. Wheatley's poetry, therefore, is a testament to resilience and the quest for recognition within a dehumanizing system (Johnson, 2012). Its tone reflects hope and defiance but also highlights the limitations faced by enslaved writers constrained within a colonial environment.

In contrast, Beyoncé’s “Formation” exemplifies a shift toward overt political activism and cultural pride. The song’s visual and lyrical elements openly confront racial injustice, police violence, and media stereotyping. It affirms Black beauty, history, and resilience, symbolizing a collective assertion of power. Beyoncé’s work also signifies the societal acceptance and integration of Black culture into mainstream media, reflecting broader changes in cultural visibility and social acknowledgment (Sullivan, 2016).

Both works demonstrate evolving modes of resistance—Wheatley through poetic expression amid silence and oppression, and Beyoncé through public spectacle and musical protest. They show that while the mediums differ, the core messages of dignity and resistance remain central to Black cultural identity. The comparison highlights how the Black experience has persisted through centuries, adapting to present-day contexts but rooted in shared themes of resilience and assertion of voice.

Conclusion

The juxtaposition of Phillis Wheatley's colonial-era poetry and Beyoncé’s contemporary music illuminates the remarkable continuity and development in Black cultural expression. From the early assertion of intellectual dignity to overt political activism, these works reflect the enduring spirit of resistance and the ongoing quest for justice. Understanding these cultural artifacts helps appreciate the depth of the African-American experience and its vital role in shaping American history and identity.

References

Johnson, M. (2012). Phillis Wheatley and the American Literary Tradition. Harvard University Press.

Sullivan, A. (2016). Beyoncé’s “Formation” and the politics of Black cultural expression. Journal of Popular Music Studies, 28(3), 315-329.

Williams, D. (2018). African-American literature from slavery to freedom. Oxford University Press.

Smith, J. (2015). Black voices: Literature and cultural identity. Routledge.

Brown, L. (2020). Music and social change in Black communities. Palgrave Macmillan.

Taylor, R. (2019). The evolution of Black artistic expression. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Anderson, P. (2017). The political power of Black art. Routledge.

Robinson, C. (2021). Resistance and resilience in African-American history. Norton & Company.

Graham, S. (2014). Visual culture and African-American identity. University of Chicago Press.

Lee, T. (2022). Contemporary Black cultural movements. Springer.