African roots/American cultures : Africa in the creation of the Americas

Africans and their descendants constituted the majority of the population of the Americas for most of the first three hundred years. Yet their fundamental roles in the creation and definition of the new societies of the Onew world, O and their significance in the development of the Atlantic world, have not been acknowledged. This multidisciplinary volume highlights the African presence throughout the Americas, and African and African Diasporan contributions to the material and cultural life of all of the Americas, and of all Americans. It includes articles from leading scholars, and from cultural leaders from both well-known and little-known African Diasporan communities. Privileging African Diasporan voices, it offers new perspectives, data, and interpretations that challenge prevailing understandings of the Americas. Its fundamental premise is that the story of the Americas can only be accurately told by including the story of the foundational roles played by Africans and their descendants in the Americas. African Roots/American Cultures 1 Contents 11 List of Figures 15 Acknowledgments 17 Translator’s Notes (Lisa Sanchez González) 19 Orthographic and Terminological Notes 22 Introduction: Are You Hip to the Jive? (Re) Writing/Righting the Pan-American Discourse (Sheila S. Walker) 23 Part I: The Africanity of Blackness and the Blackness of Whiteness in the Americas 67 1 Everyday Africa in New Jersey: Wonderings and Wanderings in the African Diaspora (Sheila S. Walker) 67 2 Reclaiming the Black Presence in “Mainstream Culture” (Shelley Fisher Fishkin) 103 3 Stripping the Emperor: The Africanist Presence in American Concert Dance (Brenda Dixon Gottschild) 111 Part II: Global Africa and the Creation of the Modern World 126 4 The African Diaspora in World History and Politics (Joseph E. Harris) 126 5 The Transatlantic Slave Trade and the Making of the Modern World (Howard Dodson) 140 6 Africans and Economic Development in the Atlantic World, 1500-1870 (Joseph E. Inikori) 145 Part III: African Pasts/Pan-American Presents 161 7 Arturo Alfonso Schomburg: A Transamerican Intellectual (Lisa Sanchez Gonzalez) 161 8 “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing”: The Relationship Between African and African American Music (Olly Wilson) 175 9 Same Boat, Different Stops: An African Atlantic Culinary Journey (Jessica B. Harris) 191 10 Roots and Branches: Historical Patterns in African Diasporan Artifacts (John Michael Vlach) 205 11 Cultural Passages in the African Diaspora: The West Indian Carnival (John O. Stewart) 228 Part IV: Re(dis)covered Histories, Re-created Nations, Reconstituted Communities—Then and Now 244 12 The Study of New York's African Burial Ground: Biocultural and Engaged (Michael L. Blakey) 244 13. New African Diasporic Communities in the United States: Community-Centered Approaches to Research and Presentation (Diana Baird N’Diaye) 254 14 African Diasporan Concepts and Practice of the Nation and Their Implications in the Modern World (Olabiyi B. Yai) 266 15 Candombe, African Nations, and the Africanity of Uruguay (Tomás Olivera Chirimini) 278 16 “Catching Sense” and the Meaning of Belonging on a South Carolina Sea Island (Patricia Guthrie) 297 Part V: African Diasporan Presences, Resistance, and Ways of Knowing 306 17 Demystifying Africa’s Absence in Venezuelan History and Culture (Jesús “Chucho” García) 306 18 Férigd/Ifarada: Black Resistance and Achievement in Brazil (Gilberto R. N. Leal) 313 19 Quilombos and Rebellions in Brazil (João José Reis) 323 20 The Afro Populations of America’s Southern Cone: Organization, Development, and Culture in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay (Romero Jorge Rodriguez) 336 21 Afro-Argentineans: “Forgotten” and “Disappeared”—Yet Still Present Lucia Dominga Molina and Mario Luis Lépez) 354 22 Stories and Images of Our People: Propositions for a Future (Gloria Rolando) 370 23 Embodied Knowledge in African American Dance Performance (Yvonne Daniel) 374 Index 384 About the Contributors 395 Everyday Africa In New Jersey : Wonderings And Wanderings In The African Diaspora / Sheila S. Walker -- Reclaiming The Black Presence In Maintream Culture / Shelley Fisher Fishkin -- Stripping The Emperor : The Africanist Presence In American Concert Dance / Brenda Dixon Gottschild -- The African Diaspora In World History And Politics / Joseph E. Harris -- The Transatlantic Slave Trade And The Making Of The Modern World / Howard Dodson -- Africans And Economic Development In The Atlantic World, 1500-1870 / Joseph E. Inikori -- Arturo Alfonso Schomburg : A Transamerican Intellectual / Lisa Sánchez González -- It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing : The Relationship Between African And African American Music / Olly Wilson -- Same Boat, Different Stops : An African Atlantic Culinary Journey / Jessica B. Harris -- Roots And Branches : Historical Patterns In African Diasporan Artifacts / John Michael Vlach -- Cultural Passages In The African Diaspora : The West Indian Carnival / John O. Stewart -- The Study Of New York's African Burial Ground : Biocutural And Engaged / Michael L. Blakey. New African Diasporic Communities In The United States : Community-centered Approaches To Research And Presentation / Diana Baird N'diaye -- African Diasporan Concepts And Practice Of The Nation And Their Implications In The Modern World / Olabiyi B. Yai -- Candombe, African Nations, And The Africanity Of Uruguay / Tomás Olivera Chirimini -- Catching Sense And The Meaning Of Belonging On A South Carolina Sea Island / Patricia Guthrie -- Demystifying Africa's Absence In Venezuelan Hsitory And Culture / Jesús Chucho García -- Fárígá/Ìfaradà : Black Resistance And Achievement In Brazil / Gilberto R.n. Leal -- Quilombos And Rebellions In Brazil / João José Reis -- The Afro Populations Of America's Southern Cone : Organization, Development, And Culture In Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, And Uruguay / Romero Jorge Rodríguez -- Afro-argentineans : Forgotten And Disappearred, Yet Still Present / Lucía Dominga Molina And Mario Luis López -- Stories And Images Of Our People : Propositions For A Future / Gloria Rolando -- Embodied Knowledge In African American Dance Performance / Yvonne Daniel. Edited By Sheila S. Walker. Based On An International Conference On The African Diaspora And The Modern World Held At The University Of Texas At Austin In February 1996. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Introduction : Are you hip to the jive? (Re)writing/righting the Pan-American discourse / Sheila S. Walker Everyday Africa in New Jersey : wonderings and wanderings in the African diaspora / Sheila S. Walker Reclaiming the Black presence in "mainstream culture" / Shelley Fisher Fishkin Stripping the emperor : the Africanist presence in American concert dance / Brenda Dixon Gottschild The African diaspora in world history and politics / Joseph E. Harris The transatlantic slave trade and the making of the modern world / Howard Dodson Africans and economic development in the Atlantic world, 1500-1870 / Joseph E. Inikori Arturo Alfonso Schomburg : a transamerican intellectual / Lisa Sánchez González "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing" : the relationship between African and African American music / Olly Wilson Same boat, different stops : an African Atlantic culinary journey / Jessica B. Harris Roots and branches : historical patterns in African diasporan artifacts / John Michael Vlach Cultural passages in the African diaspora : the West Indian carnival / John O. Stewart The study of New York's African burial ground : biocultural and engaged / Michael L. Blakey New African diasporic communities in the United States : community-centered approaches to research and presentation / Diana Baird N'Diaye African diasporan concepts and practice of the nation and their implications in the modern world / Olabiyi B. Yai Candombe, African nations, and the Africanity of Uruguay / Tomás Olivera Chirimini "Catching sense" and the meaning of belonging on a South Carolina sea island / Patricia Guthrie Demystifying Africa's absence in Venezuelan history and culture / Jesús "Chucho" García Fárígá/Ìfaradà : Black resistance and achievement in Brazil / Gilberto R.N. Leal Quilombos and rebellions in Brazil / João José Reis The Afro populations of America's southern cone : organization, development, and culture in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay / Romero Jorge Rodríguez Afro-Argentineans : "forgotten" and "disappeared" yet still present / Lucía Dominga Molina and Mario Luis López Stories and images of our people : propositions for a future / Gloria Rolando Embodied knowledge in African American dance performance / Yvonne Daniel Africans and their descendants constituted the majority of the population of the modern Americas for the first three hundred years of their five centuries of existence. Yet their fundamental roles in the creation and definition of the new societies of the "new world," and their significance in the development of the Atlantic world, have not been acknowledged. This multidisciplinary volume highlights the African presence throughout the Americas, and African and African Diasporan contributions to the material and cultural life of all of the Americas, and of all Americans. It includes articles from leading scholars, and from cultural leaders from both well-known and little-known African Diasporan communities. Privileging, although not limiting itself to, African Diasporan voices, it offers new perspectives, data, and interpretations that challenge prevailing understandings of the Americas. Its fundamental premise is that the story of the Americas can only be accurately told by including the foundational roles played by Africans and their descendants in the Americas. Africans and their descendants constituted the majority of the population of the Americas for most of the first three hundred years after the arrival of Columbus ... This multidisciplinary volume highlights the African presence throughout the Americas, as well as African and African Diasporan contributions to the material and cultural life of all of the Americas and of all Americans.-Back cover This volume highlights the significance of the African presence in the development of the Americas. It offers perspectives, data and interpretations that challenge prevailing understandings of the Americas, and articles from scholars and cultural leaders from African diaspora communities.