The History of the United States Part 12: The

Culture of America (The Finale)

Time has come about quickly as we near 2020. In the midst of massive changes in
America, there is the persistent growth of American culture. Diversity is an accurate
T description to describe it. Inventions, music, and other forms of expression make up
U.S. culture in a great fashion. From the Dream Team winning Olympic gold to Mae
H Jemison traveling into space, Americans do have an inspirational quality about our
E complex lives. We survived so much of wars, political conflicts, and controversies.
Likewise, we have such a long way to go in going forward towards the dream of a
E society filled with equality, freedom, and justice. Liberty is more than just words
written. It is a way of life where oppression is eliminated and the flourishing of
N communities is ever present. Therefore, American culture is not just about risk taking
D or individualism. It is also seeing that working together as a team (in a collective way)
for a just cause makes more sense than perpetual tensions that seek to ruin the fabric
of society. Diversity and unity existing simultaneously is the essence of our repertoire.
 The Table of Contents
1. Prologue 2. Literature 3. Art 4. STEM
5. Religion 6. Cuisine 7. American 8. Sports
Fashion
9. Education 10. Family 11. Politics 12. Race,
Structure Ancestry, and
Sociology
13. 14. National 15. Epilogue 16: Appendix
Volunteerism Holidays (for the A: American
American Music
series)
Source: Soldier and
Companion, c.1861-65
(tintype with brass mat &
leather case), American
Photographer, (19th
century)/Detroit Institute
of Arts, USA/Founders
Society Purchase, DeRoy
Photographic Acquisition
Endowment Fund and
Coville Photographic
Fund/Bridgeman Images
One fact is true about American culture. It is the
most multicultural and diverse culture in human
history. One large part of American culture is both
the merging of other cultures and other original
indigenous cultures at the same time. For example,
pizza, Cubism, drums, kente cloth, and other forms
of culture embraced in America didn’t originate
from America. Also, we know that the music of jazz
is an indigenous form of American music. To know
about America fully, you have to understand about
jazz in its artistry and influence globally. The
United States of America has influences from
African, Native American, Asian, Polynesian,
European, and Latin American peoples. The way
we talk, the fashion that we wear, our cuisine, our
stories, our habits, our art, and our social habits
deal with the beauty of American culture. One
example is that when some wear jerseys as clothes
and when some eat hamburgers at times, then that
is a reflection of American culture. Music and
media from the United States has impacted the
globe for decades and centuries. The shows on BET
from Black Girls Rock to the various, new movies
about the lives of artists outline black culture
including American realities.
Motown has worldwide influence. We can
witness that by countries embracing hip hop, pop
artists touring the world, R&B being popular,
U.S. gospel making an impact on human culture,
and jazz being embraced by a wide spectrum of
human beings. Everyone knows about the cinema
industry being an influential in the world society.
The powerful films of Malcolm X, In the Heat of
the Night, and Glory exemplify the power of
American stories. Migration from people from
across the globe into America has made America
better. Diversity is quintessentially part of our
strength. In this final part of the history of the
United States of America series, it is time to
discuss a diverse amount of subjects. To witness
American comedy, poetry, theater, architecture,
symbols, and folklore is to recognize the greatness
found among many Americans. We know about
evil Americans, but it is also important to praise
great Americans who promote honesty, humility,
and justice wholeheartedly. In other words, the
essence of American culture is its dynamic
flexibility including its resiliency spanning the
centuries of United States history. American
culture is an integral part of world culture.
American literature has always been created by people of every color and of every background. Back
centuries ago, the earliest forms of American literature dealt with nonfiction and fiction. They related
to colonial life, slavery, myths, and other aspects of how human beings lived back then. Much of the
early literature dealt with religions. Puritan ideals were advanced in various stories as Puritan settlers
came into America back in the 1600’s. There were European settlements in Saint Augustine, Santa
Fe, the Dutch settlements in Albany and in NYC. Oral traditions were found among Native
Americans. Captain John Smith wrote stories about the Virginia colony. Other early writers were
Daniel Denton, Thomas Ash, William Penn, etc. Phyllis Wheatley wrote poetry. Wheatley (who was
an African American woman) was a such great writer of literature, that people around the world back
then acknowledged her literary greatness. Many writers like Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton,
and Thomas Paine wrote political writings. Alexander Hamilton wrote literature in favor of large
government involvement in banking and other economic aspects of American society. Thomas
Jefferson was the author of the United States Declaration of Independence. As time went on, many
writers focused on culture, spirituality, and culture like Washington Irving, Edgar Allan Poe, and
Ralph Waldo Emerson (who followed Transcendentalism). Frederick Douglass’ “Narrative of the Life
of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave” depicted his life story from slavery to freedom.

Frederick Douglass wanted to abolish slavery. Douglass encouraged his sons to fight for the Union
during the U.S. Civil War. Also, one of my ancestor’s in-law’s relatives are related to Frederick
Douglass. Frederick Douglass almost lived to see 1900, and to the day he passed away, Frederick
Douglass advocated for justice for humanity. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” novel
inspired further abolitionist movements. Adultery was mentioned in the 19th century story of The
Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Walt Whitman, Emily Dickson, and Mark Twain were some
of the greatest writers of the 19th century. By the early 20th century, many writers discussed the
disillusionment with war and the Great Depression like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and
William Faulkner. Ezra Pound, Robert Frost, and others had international status as great writers. John
Steinbeck didn’t pull back in his works about suffering. From the mid-20th century to the current
21st century, American authors have dealt with war, fiction, multicultural realities, sex, race, class,
science fiction, and the wide themes of world society.

Every black writer from the 1960's onward is influenced one way or another by the
exquisite, eloquent literature of Gwendolyn Brooks. She wrote poetry which moved
communities and expressed the pain, the joy, and the multifaceted experiences of black
people. She was part of Chicago. She was born in Topeka, Kansas, but she moved into
Chicago at a very young age. When she was growing up, she saw the Chicago
Renaissance where Brothers and Sisters exploded with glorious creativity involving
literature, art, music, dance, and other aspects of human endeavors. Since she was a
child, she wrote literature like poetry constantly. She evaluated her conditions and gave
voice to the aches of the poor and of black people in America. She was an activist who
yearned for justice. That's obviously self-evident in her support of the Civil Rights
Movement (She was part of the NAACP Youth Council in 1937. She protested lynching
and racism back then. Also, she wrote in 1963 a work called, "The Bean Eaters" which
inspired civil rights activists), the Black Power Movement, and the anti-apartheid
movement.

She was an educator who loved to exhibit her wisdom and her expertise to assist young
black writers to perfect their crafts. A lot of her work delves into subjects of black
youth, the rights of black women, societal changes, and life in general. Her genius is
irreplaceable including magnificent. She loved us. She loved black people and we love
her back. She was raised the Bronzeville district of Chicago's South Side. She knew of
the ghetto. She knew of James Weldon Johnson (who was a civil rights icon), and she
met Langston Hughes (who is another literary genius in his own right). Gwendolyn
Brooks won many prestigious awards constantly because her talent along with the fact
that her words were brilliant in its composition. She was a Pulitzer Prize winner, a poet
laureate, and a recipient of the National Medal of Arts. Her empathy was incredible and
her brilliance is unmatched. We miss her. We owe her a lot. Part of life is to
acknowledge the sacrifice of others and Sister Gwendolyn Brooks was a heroic black
woman. She was a wife and a great mother. She passed away at the age 83 in the year of
2000.

Rest in Power Sister Gwendolyn Brooks.

From Maya Angelou to Sandra Cisneros, people of color have a huge role in the development of
American literature. Writers like Ha Jin and Jonathan Franzen has made their contributions in great
ways as well. Toni Morrison and other writers outlined the genius of literary talent, and they described
the complex lives of black American people. Toni Morrison recently passed away, but her legacy will
eternally live onward. The experience of black people in America completely matters as does the
experience of every human being on this Earth.
American art is a powerful way of self-expression. From thousands of years, Native Americans used art
in paintings, pottery, and other patterns that have been influenced by their imaginations. Native
Americans created great art, and this art is American art too. From the Mississippian culture to the
Southwestern Native American culture, paintings and other artistic designs were commonplace. As
time went on, the colonial era and the Revolutionary era saw portraits of leaders like Gilbert Stuart’s
portrait of George Washington. There was more pottery back then as well. John Singleton Copley was
a famous painter. During the 19th century, George Caleb Ginham, and other artists showed many
environments. By the 20th century, an explosion of art exists. The Southwest saw Georgia O’Keefe.
The Cubism and abstract art took shape. The Harlem Renaissance had African Americans like Robert
Lawrence and Augusta Savage expressing paintings, sculptures, and dance performances that outlined
the diversity of black life. Aaron Douglas, Archibald Motley, and other artists of the Harlem
Renaissance were very influential to the art of the modern age. New Deal art was very diverse. One of
the greatest photographers of all time was Gordon Parks. He was a man who recorded images of
American life for decades from parties to historical figures. He made a collection of egalitarian works
that we appreciate to this very day.

Art is always important. It is important to realize that American art existed for thousands of years.
There were pictograph images in the Southwest part of America created by the indigenous people
thousands of years ago. Jonathan Eastman Johnson was one of the most gifted artists in American
history. He was a painter and co-founder of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. He
painted famous people like Abraham Lincoln and everyday people. He studied art in Germany and in
America. Johnson painted the Ojibwe people with the help of Stephen Bonga (who was of African
American and Ojibwe heritage). He painted images of African Americans too. His most famous
painted was the A Ride for Liberty-The Fugitive Slaves (1862) which was about a black family riding
for freedom from slavery. Grant DeVolson Wood was an American artist who used Gothic imagery
and shown places of rural including Midwestern locations. One of my favorite artists was Sister Loïs
Mailou Jones (November 3, 1905 – June 9, 1998). She was a well-known sculptor and teacher of art
for many years. She was born in Boston and lived in Paris to develop her skills. Later, her work
included the praise of Africa and the Caribbean.

Her usage of designs, illustrations, paintings, and other artistic forms of expression represent glorious
excellence. She was influenced by three of some of the greatest black American scholars in history:
sculptor Meta Warrick Fuller, composer Harry T. Burleigh, and novelist Dorothy West. Lois Mailou
Jones earned a BA in art education from Howard University. Her husband was the Haitian man Louis
Vergniaud Pierre-Noel. The African American artist Archibald Motley created great works. He painted
works of black Americans in the 1920's and in the 1930's during the Harlem Renaissance and the
New Negro movement. Jazz was part of his imagery. He was born in New Orleans and passed away in
Chicago. James der Zee was another great artist who made portraits of both famous and unsung
human beings (like Countee Cullen, Bill Robinson, Joe Louis, Florence Mills, etc.) for a long time.
During the 21st century, art is focused on the environment, technology, digital paintings, and other
forms of human expression.

We are filled with technology. From homes to computers, STEM fields dominate our society. That is
why there is an increased movement for young people, old people, minorities, women, girls, and the
poor to have access to STEM field. STEM is one of the few fields on Earth that will be permanently
found in any civilization, because we all need math, we all need to build things, and we all desire
functional institutions. Eclectic architecture is reflected in the Art Deco architectural style of the
Empire State building. The role of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates in the expansion of internet technology
can never be understated. They used Apple and Microsoft for home personal usage, research, storing
data, and other functions. Jobs creating the I-Phone is one of the most remarkable, important
inventions in human history.

Americans of every color have used STEM to benefit humanity like Katherine Johnson, Otis Boykin,
Henry Brown, George Washington Carver, Patricia Bath, Luis Walter Alvarez, Charles Apgar, Barbara
Askins, and other human beings. Also, George Washington Carver used methods to prevent soil
depletion. He was a great agricultural scientist. He loved environmentalism and developed many sweet
potato plus peanut crops. He received the Spingarn Medal of the NAACP. In 1951, TIME magazine
called Carver the “Black Leonardo.” Percy Lavon Julian was a research chemist. He used chemical
synthesis of medicinal drugs from plants. He was born in Montgomery, Alabama. He earned his
degrees from DePauw University, Harvard University, and the PhD at the University of Vienna. He
was the first African American to receive a doctorate in chemistry. He received more than 139
chemical patents. He loved his wife and his children. Annie J. Easley was a great African American
computer scientist, mathematician, and rocket scientist. She worked for NASA, the now Glen
Research Center, and the NACA (or the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics). She was
born in Birmingham, Alabama. Annie Easley wrote literature constantly about STEM Fields. Sarah
Elizabeth Goode was an American inventor and entrepreneur. She was the first African American
woman to receive an American patent (with a signature. Judy W. Reed singed her patent with an X) in
1885. She created a cabinet desk.

The growth of technology has influenced the world from the telegraph to the airplane. America gave
birth to humans going to the Moon by 1969, which is one of the greatest technological
accomplishments in human history. The airplane, the IPod, video games, online shopping, the
Internet, and other STEM tools either were invented in America or has been adopted by Americans as
a staple of modern life.
 The Timeline of Various STEM Achievements of Humanity (from 1900-
2019)

Technological Apple with

Inventions Steve Jobs
invented the
iPhone in
During the 1930’s, Maria Telkes
2007,
created the first solar powered house.

Engineering
Dr. Raymond Damadian
patents the first MRI scanner.
He tests it on himself in 1977.
MRI stands for magnetic
resonance imaging). In 2014, the large hadron collider was created to
smash protons together.

Medicine

Jonas Salk created the first

In 2019, there is the first 3D print
polio vaccine in 1952.
heart from a human patient’s cells.

Travel

The Wright Brothers In 1969, humans In China, Europe, and other

made a modern airplane came on the Moon places of the world, high speed
near Kitty Hawk, North via Neil Armstrong trains (some going as fast as
Carolina (in 1903). and NASA. 200+ mph are commonplace.

Year 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2010 2020

Spirituality and religion are very important parts of American culture. The vast majority of Americans
believe in the existence of one God. The largest religion in America now is Christianity. From ancient
times to today, America has experienced followers of many religions or no religion at all. Thousands
of years ago, Native Americans were mostly polytheistic. In 2016 (according to a Gallup poll of almost
200,000 people interviewed), 48.9% people in America are Protestants, 23% are Roman Catholics,
1.8% are Mormons, 18.2% embrace no religion, 2.1% embrace Judaism, 0.8% embrace Islam, 2.5%
believe in a non-Christian religion, and there has been no response in 2.7%. In America, we have the
First Amendment that permits the freedom of religion while banning an establishment of religion.
That means that people can believe what he or she wants without a theocracy. The United States of
America has religious pluralism and diversity.

During the colonial times, many religious people came into America as a means for them to escape
religious persecution. That is why many Anglicans, Catholics, Baptists, Jewish people, and others
came into America. These people didn’t desire religious persecution. The First and Second Great
Awakenings expanded Baptist and Methodist membership. The Episcopal Church came during the
American Revolution. By the 19th century, independent religious groups were formed the like
Mormons, Adventism, and the Jehovah Witness. They were created by charismatic leaders, they hold
onto unique doctrines, and their views spread rapidly in their popularity. The Pentecostal movement
came via the Azusa Street Revival during the early 20th century. Pentecostals want to emotionally
express their honor to God. The New Age movement, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam grew in
America since the mid to late 20th century. During the 2010’s, Protestantism for the first time
stopped being the religious category of the majority of Americans. Christians are about 73.7% of the
American population. Judaism is the second largest religion in America. The third largest religion is
Islam. Islam has grown too in America. Malcolm X heavily was involved in expanding Islamic religious
followers in America. American Muslims are also America's most diverse religious community with
25% identifying as black or African American, 24% identifying as white, 18% identifying as
Asian/Chinese/Japanese, 18% identifying as Arabic, and 5% identifying as Hispanic. There is the
growth of humanists and atheists. One fifth of the US public and a third of adults under the age of 30
are reportedly unaffiliated with any religion, however they identify as being spiritual in some way. Of
these religiously unaffiliated Americans, 37% classify themselves as spiritual but not religious. Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was famous for his promotion of the social gospel. Prominent religious people
(whether people agree with them or not) are Billy Graham, Pope Benedict XVI, T.D. Jakes, Warith
Dean Muhammad, and other human beings.

Prominent American Religious Leaders

Deacon Jimmy Carter Imam Warith Deen Pastor Howard Rabbi Abraham Joshua
was a former President, Muhammad Washington Thurman Heschel (who was born
a lifelong Baptist, and a contributed heavily in was one of the greatest in Poland) was an
well-known expanded Islam in theologians in American rabbi who
philanthropist. He American society. He is American history. He was one of the leading
worked to build homes a known theologian, was a civil rights leader Jewish scholars of the
across the world via his scholar, and Islamic who promoted social 20th century. He was a
Habitat for Humanity thinker. He helped to justice. His views professor at the Jewish
organization. Always a create the Orthodox greatly influenced Dr. Theological Seminary
stalwart defender of Islamic group called the Martin Luther King Jr. of America. He wrote
human rights, Jimmy American Society of in his own activism. books on Jewish
Carter has been Muslims. He aided Thurman believed in philosophy and was
outspoken to oppose efforts to end apartheid radical nonviolence in active in the civil rights
torture, voting in South Africa. order to establish real movement. He gave his
suppression, and other social change. His wife friend Dr. King the
violations to human Sue Bailey Thurman Judaism and World
liberties. He is always a was a fellow activist Peace Award on
lover of human rights. too. December 7, 1965.
Foods in America are extremely diverse. America is about 1/3 of a billion people. Food has been
influenced by African Americans, women, immigrants, Native Americans, Italian Americans, Irish
Americans, Latino Americans, Greek Americans, German Americans, and other people of every
background. When you think about American cuisine, you think about wheat and corn. You think
about turkey, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, and maple syrup. Modern American food is always a
mixture of African, European, Asian, Oceanic, Native American, and Australian influences. Some
foods have been Americanized like Chinese American cuisine or Italian American cuisine. There are
celebrations of foods like people eating hamburgers, pot roast, baked ham, or hot dogs that came
from German cuisine. Soul food involved fish, sweet potatoes, fried chicken, greens, and other forms
of food. There is never a dull moment with U.S. cuisine. Steak, broccoli, the Food Network, The
Cooking Channel, clam shouder, Philly cheesesteak, etc. are all part of the lexicon of our society.
Some people drink alcohol like beer, wine, martinis, gin, etc.

From gumbo to jambalaya, American food is never dull. One truth about America is the high number
of people drinking coffee. More than half of all American adults drink at least one cup of coffee per
day. Fast foods, soft drinks, and other foods are common. With a growing fitness culture, people have
more of awareness that healthy eating is important as well. Fries and doughnuts are heavily consumed
in America too. There is a growing amount of people in the United States of America being vegan or
vegetarians. So, from apple cobbler to a sub, America’s cuisine remains totally unique.

Fashion in the United States of America evolved based upon religion, culture, and time period. One
part of American fashion is the blue jean. It was popularized by the merchant Levi Strauss, who was a
German-Jewish immigrant in San Francisco (and it was adopted by many people later on). People
know about cowboy hats, boots, and leather jackets. Centuries ago, fashion was heavily influenced by
the civilizations of the Native Americans, Europe, and Africa. Many colonial people took on
European style of fashion. After the 1800’s, fashion evolved into being more multifaceted. People
wore diverse clothing like suits, ties, and bikinis. Some people explored Afros and other forms of
clothes in the 1960’s and the 1970’s. From the 1980’s to the modern era, Americans fashion is heavily
diverse. The fashion industry is based in London, New York City, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and
Milan. Supermodels dominate the fashion industry like Naomi Campbell.

Icons of fashion in America are heavily abundant. Shoes with names like Converse, Addias, New
Balance, and Nike have been worn by people of every age demographic. Calvin Klein, Vera Wang,
Marc Jacobs, Oscar de la Renta, and Donna Keran have made empires of clothing enterprises. Ecko
Unted, Fubu, and other clothing lines from the past and the present has inspired the world in a
creative way. Also, musical artists have huge fashion influence like Rihanna, Beyoncé, Ciara, etc.

Sports and athleticism are huge American staples. For centuries, sports have been part of the United
States. There have been schools dealing with gymnastics, hygiene training and care since 1820.
Colleges by the 1800 are dealt with intramural sports like track, etc. Most schools had physical
education by the 20th century. Baseball was the oldest of the major American team sports.
Professional baseball dates from 1869. It has been called America’s pastime. Jackie Robinson and
Babe Ruth transformed the game for the better. Now, the Washington Nationals won the World
Series for the first time since 1924. Baseball, soccer, basketball, track and field, football, volleyball,
swimming, and other sports are performed in America all of the time. American football, known in
the United States as simply "football," now attracts more television viewers than any other sport and is
considered to be the most popular sport in the United States. The 32-team National Football League
(NFL) is the most popular professional American football league. The National Football League
differs from the other three major pro sports leagues in that each of its 32 teams plays one game a
week over 17 weeks, for a total of 16 games with one bye week for each team. Today, basketball is
hugely popular in America, and it was invented by a Canadian man named James Naismith. Players
like LeBron James and Kawahi Leonard are hugely popular internationally. In 2019, the Toronto
Raptors won their first franchise NBA Finals Championship with Kawahi Leonard plus his teammates
leading the way. March Madness contributed to the popularity of College basketball too.
 Historically, sports culture is always powerful in American society. Michael Jordan is certainly the
greatest NBA player in history with his titles, awards, and Olympic gold medals. Wilt Chamberlain,
Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and other players are some of the greatest basketball players in history too.
Sherly Swoopes, Candace Parker, Cheryl Miller, Nancy Lieberman, Pat Summit are involved in
women’s basketball. Muhammad Ali courageously opposed the unjust Vietnam War. Later, he
sacrificed losing the titles and resources to be vindicated by the truth. Ali was the greatest heavyweight
championship in history. Track and field legends like Allyson Felix, Carmelita Jeter, Jackee Joyner
Kersee, Carl Lewis, Flo Jo, Michael Phelps, and other people have inspired athletes and everyone else
in the world. Wilma Rudolph is another excellent track and field athlete and civil rights activist as
well.

Extraordinary Athletic Legends

Michael Jordan is the
greatest NBA player in
history. He won 6 NBA
Championships; he left
the league at his prime
once to win 3 straight
Championships from
1996-1998. He won 2
Olympic Gold medals, and
he loves the game of
basketball a great deal. For
years, he has been active in
his community. He
recently invested in a
medical facility in North
Carolina.
Althea Gibson was one Muhammad Ali is the Jackee Joyner-Kersee is a
of the most unsung representation of social track and field legend. She
sports legends in history. evolution and courage. helped to propel the sport
She played tennis and He boldly stood up into new heights of glory.
golf. She was the first against the unjust war East St. Louis, Illinois was
black woman to win in Vietnam. He the place of her birth. She
Wimbledon. Her inspired the younger ran track, did the long jump,
legendary career spanned generation of black and performed at the
many years. She married people to consider heptathlon. As one of the
before, and her love of themselves great and to greatest athletes in history,
justice has enriched the be confident about she won many gold medals
lives of future tennis themselves. He (or the and world championships.
players after her era. She greatest heavyweight She works to advocate for
was born in Clarendon boxer in history) helped racial equality, women’s
County, South Carolina so many people of rights, and children’s
and raised in New York many backgrounds education.
City. globally too.
Muhammad Ali was a
great hero.
 THE 2019 DOHA IAAF WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS (TRACK AND FIELD)

During the year of 2019, tons of great athletes came together in the spirit of
competition in order to fight for victory at Doha, Qatar. They came from many
backgrounds (including people of black African descent), and they were unified
in their love of sport. Many people won various medals from many nations.
Likewise, human beings globally appreciate these men and women as great
human beings who desire excellence to part of their lives continuously.

Christian Coleman of
America won the 100m at
Doha with a time of 9.76
seconds. Justin Gatlin of
America and Andre De Grasse
of Canada won silver and
bronze respectively.
Sister Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce from Jamaica
won the 100 m at Doha with the time of Sister Nia Ali won gold in the
10.71 seconds. Dina Asher-Smith of Great 100m hurdles.
Britain and Marie-Josee TaLou of the Ivory
Coast won silver and bronze respectively.

Kendra Harrison, Nia Ali, and

The USA men’s team won the 4 X 100
relay race.
These women won the 4 X 400 m Danielle Williams are all champions
relay race. Their names are Phyllis of Doha.
Francis Sydney McLaughlin, Dalilah
Muhammad, and Wadeline
Jonathas. Others who received
medals are Jessica Beard, Allyson
Felix, Kendall Ellis, and Courtney
Okolo.

Yaime Perez of Cuba

won the discus throw in The Jamaican women’s team
gold. Silver was won by won gold in the 4 X 100 relay
Denia Caballero, and race. Their names are
bronze was won by DeAnna Price
Natalliah Whyte, Shelly-Ann
Sandra Perkovic of won gold in the The USA team won the mixed 4 X 400 Fraser-Pryce, Joinelle Smith,
Croatia. hammer throw. relay. Their names are Wilbert London, Shericka Jackson, and
Allyson Felix, Courtney Okolo, and Natasha Morrison.
Michael Cherry including others.
 Legends exist constantly, and she is a modern day
legend. Not only has she won tons of awards involving
the great sport of track and field. She has worked
diligently in many charities. She isn't ashamed of her faith
as she has praised God all of the time. Also, she is one
of the highly decorated track and field athletes in history
period. She is Sister Allyson Felix. Los Angeles,
California is the place of her birth. Her father is a minister
and her mother is a teacher. She is very strong too as,
she can deadlift 270 lbs. in high school. Later, she ran
track as a youth and in USC. A long career is part of her
life. She won the silver medal in Athens back in 2004
during the Olympics. She won silver in the 200 m again
in Beijing back in the 2008 Olympics. Her dream was to
get the gold medal in the 200 m. She would receive her
wish in the 2012 London Olympic Games. She won gold
in the 200 m and in the historic 4 X 100 women's relay
race (being the fastest relay race of the 4 X 100 m
women's team in history).

She won gold in the 2016 Olympics in the 4 X 100

women's relay. Felix is a five-time recipient of the Jesse
Owens Award from USATF signifying the Athlete of the
Year. She won the award for the first time in 2005, and
then again in 2007, 2010 and 2012. Felix also won the
IAAF female athlete of the year in 2012. Felix is the only
woman track and field athlete to ever win six Olympic
gold medals, and is tied with Merlene Ottey as the most
decorated woman Olympian in track and field history,
with a total of nine Olympic medals. Felix is also the most
decorated athlete in IAAF World Championships history
with 16 career medals. She has worked in America and
in other nations in promoting literacy, STEM fields,
tolerance and respect for those with disabilities. Allyson
Felix loves to advance programs of social uplift. She is a
great role model.

Serena Williams is the greatest women tennis player in history, and her sister Venus Williams is a
great player in her own right. Simone Biles is the best gymnast in history. Billie Jean King, Roger
Frederer, Althea Gibson, and tennis players have shown their great qualities of talent, endurance, and
victories. Tiger Woods have broken records in gold and overcame obstacles. The 2019 American USA
women’s soccer team, Mia Hamm, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Katie Ledecky, and other sports legends
contributed to our modern society in enumerable ways. In American football, Jim Thorpe, Jim
Brown, Walter Peyton, Jerry Rice, etc. expanded the game. Toni Harris and other women have
worked so much in U.S. football. Nicole Lynn is the first black women to represent a top 5 NFL draft
pick. Lacrosse is a sport played in America whose origin came from Native Americans. Boxing, soccer,
horse racing, skateboarding, rugby, weightlifting, fencing, water polo, rodeo, and other sports are key
parts of American culture.

One of the greatest educational books in our

generation is Professor Michelle Alexander’s
book entitled, “The New Jim Crow: Mass
Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.”
Her book deals with how the prison industrial
complex has ruined the social and
educational lives of so many people
(disproportionally Black and Brown lives).
The lesson here is that the criminal justice
system must have massive structural change in
order for real fairness to exist. This change
not only involves prisons, but judges, laws,
and other policies that perpetrate oppression.
We reject injustice and want true equity of
the law to be manifested in the world.

Education in the United States is mostly provided by the government. Private education is usually
found in religious groups, private institutions, and some of it is homeschool. Public education is
funded by federal, state, and local entities. Public education is mandatory in terms of attendance.
High school, middle school, and elementary school contribute so much to develop the lives of the
youth. Most public and private schools have elementary, middle, and high schools. Post-secondary
education deals with colleges and universities. Community colleges are very popular in our
generation, since they are less expensive than public and private four year universities. In the year
2000, there were 76.6 million students enrolled in schools from kindergarten through graduate
schools. Of these, 72 percent aged 12 to 17 were judged academically "on track" for their age (enrolled
in school at or above grade level). Of those enrolled in compulsory education, 5.2 million (10.4
percent) were attending private schools. Among the country's adult population, over 85 percent have
completed high school and 27 percent have received a bachelor's degree or higher. Issues in education
deal with teacher’s pay, school suffering in struggling communities, bullying, discipline issues, and
other topics. Debates arise around charters, vouchers, and other issues including merit pay. In this
time, the budget of education from 2015-16 is $1.3 trillion or 7.2 percent of the GDP. State
governments readily mandate standardized tests for K-12 public schools.

Private schools determine their own curriculum and staffing policies. According to a report published
by the U.S. News & World Report, of the top ten colleges and universities in the world, eight are
American (the other two are Oxford and Cambridge, in the United Kingdom). The US ranks 3rd
from the bottom among OECD nations in terms of its poverty gap, and 4th from the bottom in terms
of poverty rate. Jonathan Kozol has described these inequalities in K–12 education in "Savage
Inequalities and The Shame of a Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America."
Making education better is complex. One solution isn’t enough. Multiple solutions are needed like
smaller class sizes, diverse teachers from many backgrounds, mentorship, parental involvement,
teachers using creative curriculum beyond just teaching to a test, programs addressing bullying, acts
addressing student loan debt, and other actions.

Families are diverse in America. It is a lie to assume that healthy families must only be one way. There
are many healthy, strong families that are nuclear, blended, single, and other types of families in
America. We live in a new era of time. The nuclear family is about two married adults with biological
children. Today, single parent families, childless couples, and fused families constitute the majority of
American families currently. A person may grow up in a single-parent family, go on to marry and live
in childless couple arrangement, then get divorced, live as a single for a couple of years, remarry, have
children and live in a nuclear family arrangement. Unique families are common place. Back in 1970,
about 40 percent of all American families were nuclear families. That isn’t the case now as single
families have increased. We see a postmodern family reality. Single-parent households are households
consisting of a single adult (most often a woman) and one or more children. In the single-parent
household, one parent typically raises the children with little to no help at all, from the other. This
parent is the sole "breadwinner" of the family. Like any family, families in many cases face poverty,
educational issues, and other socioeconomic issues. More families rely on two income earners to
survive in America.

Another change is the increasing age at which young Americans leave their parental home.
Traditionally, a person past "college age" who lived with their parent(s) was viewed negatively, but
today it is not uncommon for children to live with their parents until their mid-twenties. This trend
can be mostly attributed to rising living costs that are more expensive compared to those in decades
past. Thus, many young adults now remain with their parents well past their mid-twenties. This topic
was a cover article of TIME magazine in 2005. The real estate markets in large urban centers are very
expensive with some monthly rents exceeding $1,000 a month. The no-fault divorce revolution began
in 1969 in California; New York and South Dakota were the last states to begin allowing no-fault
divorce. No-fault divorce on the grounds of "irreconcilable differences" is now available in all states.
However, many states have recently required separation periods prior to a formal divorce decree. State
law provides for child support where children are involved, and sometimes for alimony. The median
length for a marriage in the U.S. today is 11 years with 90% of all divorces being settled out of court.
As of 2007, 58% of Americans age 18 and over were married, 6% were widowed, 10% were divorced,
and 25% had never been married. Women now work mostly outside the home and receive a majority
of bachelor's degrees.

The United States is the world’s oldest surviving federation. We certainly have a political emergency
with the racist Donald Trump telling Congresswomen to leave America if they disagree with him,
demonizing the press, using a Muslim ban, slandering peaceful protesters, and showing overt racism
in policies plus Tweets. America has a system that deals with representative democracy, but
gerrymandering plus racist voter ID laws has suppressed the vote of many Americans. We should have
checks and balances defined by the U.S. Constitution. Citizens readily vote for elected officials.
America has 50 states, a federal district, five territories, and many uninhabited island possessions. We
live in a polarized country with the two major parties of Democrats and Republicans. There are many
third parties too from the Libertarian Party to the Green Party. The Democrats were formed in 1824
and Republicans were created in 1854. In political culture, most Republicans are conservative and
most Democrats are liberal and centrist.

The Speaker of the House is Nancy Pelosi and the Majority Leader of the Senate is Mitch McConnell.
About 40 percent of Americans support Trump while the majority of Americans disagree with the
agenda of him. The modern U.S. tax system was progressive for years, and it became less progressive
since 1980. America’s economic system is a capitalist mixed economy. It has natural resources and
high productivity. According to the International Monetary Fund, the U.S. GDP of $16.8 trillion
constitutes 24% of the gross world product at market exchange rates and over 19% of the gross world
product at purchasing power parity (PPP). Back in the day, classical liberalism dealt with limited
government and laissez faire economics.

Some very sad news is the passing of Elijah Cummings today on Thursday morning. He
was 68 years old. He loved his city of Baltimore, Maryland where he was raised. He made
many accomplishments and made history. This is not about politics. It is about a man
who sacrificed a lot for his country. He married the love of his life (who is his wife Sister
Maya Rockeymoore. She is the chairwoman of the Maryland Democratic Party since
December 2018) and had many children. He loved black people and all people. Just
before his transition, he fought to find the truth in dealing with the Ukraine scandal. He
graduated from Howard University which is one of the greatest HBCUs in the world.
He studied law. He was part of the Maryland House of Delegates before he was in the
U.S. House of Representatives. Elijah Cummings was the first African American in
Maryland to be named Speaker Pro Tempore or the second highest position in the
House of Delegates. Baltimore lost a champion for civil rights and justice, but his
influences permanently will shine brightly in America plus the world.
Rest in Power Brother Elijah Cummings.
 Profiles in Courage

John Brown Barbara Jordan Fred Hampton Shirley Chisholm

Today, American liberalism deals with government involvement in the economy along with being
socially liberal. American culture has debated the role of government from the 1700’s to the modern
age of 2019. Lobbyists, activists, and citizens all interact or oppose each other. That is why many
people disagree with oligarchy, since a strong democracy requires fairness and the defense of
democratic rights for all people not just for the few.
America has the third largest amount of population of any nation on Earth. China and India have
more people. Race has always been an issue that has been part of American culture. When America
was birthed, 10 out of the 12 first American Presidents owned slaves. Thomas Jefferson explicitly
didn't believe in the intellectual and social equality of black people. With recent events from police
brutality to the comments of the President Trump spewing racism against four Congresswomen of
color, we have to confront race, class, and sex in order to have a society where justice for all is real
(beyond just words). America has almost 330 million people. It once had almost 4 million people back
in 1790. White Americans are 73.1 percent of the population. Black Americans and Latino
Americans are the largest minority groups in America. Asian Americans and Native Americans make
up millions of people in America too. Minorities will be the majority of the population of America by
2044. These demographic changes are real. The United States has a birth rate of 13 per 1,000, which
is 5 births below the world average. Its population growth rate is positive at 0.7%, higher than that of
many developed nations in fiscal year 2017, over one million immigrants (most of who entered
through family reunification) were granted legal residence. Mexico has been the leading source of new
residents since the 1965 Immigration Act. China, India, and the Philippines have been in the top
four sending countries since the 1990's. As of 2012, approximately 11.4 million residents are
undocumented immigrants.

As of 2015, 47% of all immigrants are Hispanic, 26% are Asian, 18% are white and 8% are black
human beings. The percentage of immigrants who are Asian is increasing while the percentage of
those who are Hispanic is decreasing. From work in the Civil Rights Movement to being inventors,
African Americans have been always focused hard to contribute heavily to the culture of America.
About 55 percent of African Americans live in the South. There is no modern America without the
sacrifice of black Americans period. About 82% of Americans live in urban areas (including the
suburbs); about half of those reside in cities with populations over 50,000. The U.S. has numerous
clusters of cities known as megaregions, the largest being the Great Lakes Megalopolis followed by the
Northeast Megalopolis and Southern California. In 2008, 273 incorporated municipalities had
populations over 100,000, nine cities had more than one million residents, and four global cities had
over two million (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston). There are 52 metropolitan areas
with populations greater than one million. America is a multiracial, multiethnic nation. So, we have a
complex history filled with racism and anti-racism efforts. We have a history of bigotry and heroes
fighting bigotry.
When it is all said As members of the We are diverse in our
and done, African African Diaspora, we religious views, our
Americans have love Africans, Afro- cultural identities, our
made huge, French human basic interests, and other
monumental beings, Afro- things, but we are unified
contributions in the Caribbeans, and all in our common purpose
atmosphere of world people of the black for the advocacy for
history. I am an African Diaspora. justice. That is the major
African American, so We also love the part of our existence. We Benjamin Banneker was
Claudia L. Thomas, a STEM scholar and he
the African American strength and courage will always lift our voices M.D. (The first African promoted justice for
story is deeply of the African to sing the song of American woman black Americans.
personal in my heart. American freedom. Selah. orthopedic surgeon in
the United States)
For centuries from community too.
the 1500's to the Shows like Roc and
present, we have movies like Love
been doctors, Jones including
teachers, lawyers, Malcolm X describe
athletes, musicians, the breadth of our
judges, dancers, pain, our joy, our
activists, dentists, soul, and our lives in
theologians, and general. Most of us
other leaders in our came from West and
communities. Central Africa.

Our ancestors Most of us are of

experienced the worst Bantu heritage (DNA
crime in human testing proves that
history for centuries my ancestors mainly
(i.e. The Maafa and came from Nigeria
slavery in North and the Congo).
America), but we still Once a Bantu, always Fannie Lou Hamer and
Dr. King and Coretta Scott Ella Baker were heroic
rise. We have been a Bantu. Therefore, I King are together in love.
W.E.B. Dubois was one black women.
slandered, but we still am thankful of my
of the greatest
rise. African Bantu ancestry of intellectuals in history.
American culture is freedom. He believed in pan-
the heartbeat of Africanism.
American culture.
Our music, our There are over 40
dance, our million African
soliloquies, our social Americans today,
mores, and other and we live mostly in
creative power can the South including
Kobe Bryant, Lisa Leslie,
never be duplicated. large urban areas. and Magic Johnson are all Ryan Michelle Bathe
Most of us African basketball legends. and her husband
Americans are Sterling K. Brown are a
team.
Protestants and
Baptists. Aunjanue Ellis is a
conscious Sister with
great acting talent, and
she is a gorgeous black
woman too.
One part of American culture is many Americans are known for charitable work and advocacy. It is
no secret that many righteous Americans have worked hard to help the poor, gave bottled water to the
victims of the Flint water disaster, and committed to social justice. Groups like Goodwill, the Red
Cross, and other organization work day in and day out to help the lives of suffering human beings.
Throughout the year, many Americans observe holidays whether they are religious or secular.
Thanksgiving is followed by many people that dealt with colonial history. During that time, people
celebrate football, many eat turkey, and others go out to have family reunion. Also, we remember
another point. We know of the point. We have to acknowledge the unjust genocide of the Native
Americans too. Many people celebrate Christian, Muslim, and Jewish holidays like Christmas,
Passover, and Ramadan. Easter and St. Patrick holidays exist with parades and other forms of
celebrations. Christmas in America is a federal holiday. Independence Day is found on the Fourth of
July to celebrate the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. Fireworks and parades are
common. It is also important to note that America was founded in the promotion of slavery by many
evil people. Many early Americans condoned slavery, and other early Americans fought vigilantly to
oppose slavery. Likewise, there is the Juneteenth Day that celebrates the end of the Civil War for
African Americans. Halloween, Mardi Gras, and other celebrations are very commonplace. Another
federal holiday is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s day on the third Monday on January. Labor Day,
Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, President’s Day, and other holidays relate to American culture greatly.
This historic series about
America is complete. I wrote
what I envisioned in my mind.
I covered the history of
Americans of a myriad of
backgrounds without
sugarcoating American
history. Yet, the journey of
America continues. After 400
years since the 1619 arrival of
enslaved Africans to our time
in 2019, we have witnessed
tons of events from
Juneteenth to slavery revolts.
For the record, we know of
black people in America that
existed before 1619, but 1619
was the year of a turning point
in American history.
Americans of every
background have made great
contributions in history and
culture. America has not lived
up to the principles of equality
and justice at many occasions,
but many Americans (then
and now) desire those goals.
We have to be honest about
America too. America's
foundation was birthed by the
2 great crimes of the genocide
of the indigenous peoples (and
the theft of their lands), and
the enslavement of African
human beings. Freedom is
worth fighting for. That is why
progress never comes in the
Universe without struggle.
Every victory that we achieved
from the Voting Rights Act to
labor protections transpired by
a fight for justice. To defeat
evil, we must confront it. I was
born in Southeastern Virginia,
so I know fully about
American society. I am a black
American, and I love my
Blackness. Americans have
traveled into space, built
skyscrapers, led progressive
social movements for
generations, and many of us
believe in justice. Resiliency
and an earnest to fight for
positive change is with the
souls of numerous Americans.
Ideals are important as they
can stir up the soul. We
understand that class
conscious is important too.
The poor and the working
class should unite to eliminate
economic oppression.
Not to mention that we
believe in solutions as well. In
other words, neglected
communities ought to be
invested, our infrastructure
need to be funded plus
updated to meet 21st century
needs (in the midst of massive
automation in a growing
postindustrial economy), and
affordable, universal health
care should be available to all
people irrespective of race, sex,
income, creed, or background.
America is part of us as our
souls relate to the total
American experience. The
words of Lorraine Hansberry,
the courage of Muhammad Ali
against the Vietnam War, the
flight of the Wright Brothers,
and the Americans who
helped the victims of
Hurricane Katrina are all
American stories. America is a
combination of good and evil
events in one nation. America
survived the Revolutionary
War, the Civil War, two
World Wars, and other social
The late Sister Marian
Anderson was a singer, a
woman who broke down
barriers, and a civil rights
activist. She has shown
the world that America is
our country too.
changes. We are unlike any
other land in human history.
We are the most diverse
nation in human history. We
have no official language as
our diversity is part of our
strength. For the record, we
shouldn't have an official
language either. We have our
issues too. HUD being gutted
and expensive housing are
serious problems (many
people and families struggle to
get apartments, since tons of
people have to work 2 to 3
jobs just to make ends meet).
We have a 1968 Housing Act
for a reason. America exists as
one country being out of many
people to become one nation.
The goal of us being united
under the principles of
equality, liberty, and justice is
a legitimate one. The problem
is that that goal isn't realized
yet. We have to recognize our
imperfections and willing to
criticize policies in America
which are wrong in order to
make the Dream real. With
hope, faith, and action, we will
be victorious in establishing
the Dream in the end.
 Appendix A: American Music
There can be no discussion about America without exploring its music. Music from the United States
is blatantly and overtly universal. Every country on Earth is influenced by American music directly or
indirectly. People in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, etc. love gospel, hip hop, rock , country,
bluegrasss, pop, jazz, etc. just as much as many of us Americans do. The strength of U.S. music is that
it is diverse, merging, and very powerful. America is a multi-ethnic population. American music is
influenced from West African Irish, Scottish, Native American, Asian, Latino, and mainland
European cultures. Historically, jazz, blues, country, bluegrasss, rock, rhythm and blues, soul, ragtime,
hip hop, doo wop, pop, techno, house, folk music, disco, boogaloo, reggaeton, and salsa are found in
America plus the world. Since the 20th century, artists from Patti Labelle to Rakim have a global
following. The Native Americans created the first music of North America as they are the first people
to have lived in the Americas thousands of years ago. From the 17th century, immigrants from the Uk,
Ireland, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, etc. arrived in America in large numbers. They
had instruments and songs with them. Africans had musical traditions too. Jazz and American gospel
music were one large background of how American pop music evolved and grew into new heights.
Modern U.S. sonbgs have African, European, and indigenous roots. Great musical scenes are in rural
and urban areas like D.C., LA, NYC, Austin, Atlanta, San Francisco, San Juan, Nashville,
Philadelphia, Seattle, Boston, Portland, San Francisco, Boulder, Cleveland, Oakland, Madison, and
other places. Cajun and Creole traditions are expressed in Louisiana. There is a Hawaiian music. One
large theme of American music is the sense of promoting freedom with the use of long melodies along
with syncopation and asymmetrical rhythms. The African influence of the call and response format in
found in American music with instruments too.

After the Civil War, the art of folk music grew. After the development of blues, gospel, jazz, and
country music, these were the roots that caused rhythm and blues, and rock and roll, and hip hop
music to flourish in our generation. American music readily deals with social and cultural identities
like social class, crace, gender, language, religions, regional geography, etc. That is why African
American music is the most popular music in the world in the 21st century. African American musical
styles became an integral part of American popular music through blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, and
then rock and roll, soul, and hip hop; all of these styles were consumed by Americans of all races, but
were created in African American styles and idioms before eventually becoming common in
performance and consumption across racial lines.

Janet Jackson is celebrating her
music with her friend and fellow
dancer Nikki Pantenburg
She is a dancer and Janet
Jackson’s’ friend Andrea Kelly
Konno. She (who is a
choreographer and teacher) was
born in Lethbridge, Canada, and
she is 45 years old.
Janet Jackson is an iconic artist. Her
birthplace was Gary, Indiana, and she
has toured the world with her talent.
Janet is a singer, a songwriter, a Janet Jackson is here with two of her
producer, and an actress as well. Her friends Shawnette H. Heard and Tina
message crystallizes the themes about Landon (who are exceptional
love, relationships, tolerance, human
choreographers too). All three women are
togetherness, and community. She has
worked hard in the endeavors of
expert dancers.
dancing, philanthropy, and other
constructive avenues of altruism. Her
music also signified her promotion of
her personal independence. She is her
own woman while being part of the
Jackson family at the same time. Her
close relationship with her late brother
Michael Jackson is fully known by the
public. She is almost 55 years old now.
Control was her album that grew her
fame and Rhythm Nation (filled with
exciting, powerful choreography) was
another album of her that propelled Her beauty is not just found in her appearance
her into another atmosphere of (as we know that beauty is diverse found in many
musical prominence. She has sold sizes and other manifestations found in the
over 100 million records worldwide. diversity of humanity). It is found in her down to
She visited places in the four corners Earth personality and her compassionate
personality too. She has one child. Janet Jackson
of the Earth and continues to motivate
epitomizes the essence of musical excellence. Her
the essence of creativity.
legendary legacy is here to stay illustriously.
 Ciara
She is a young, legendary icon. For many years, she has
performed amazing dance moves, been on movies (like Mama, I
Want to Sing), and married a man who loves her
unconditionally. She has inspired many women to pursue
upliftment, and she worked so hard throughout her own life.
Sister Ciara is now 34 years old. Dallas, Texas was the place of
her birth. As part of a military family, she traveled all across
America before settling in Atlanta, Georgia during her teenage
years. Hearsay was an early all-girl group that she was a part of.
She never gave up on her dreams. She sang songs and wrote
songs for many artists. A lot of people don't know that Ciara is a
songwriter. Later, she worked with Jazze Phe (who is a famous
producer) to create 1,2 Step, Pick Up the Phone, and other
songs. She popularized the musical style of Crunk & B.
She innovated sounds more in her album Ciara: The Evolution.
This was her first number one album on the U.S. Billboard 200
and the second on the Top R&B/Hip hop Album list. Her
messages of women empowerment, growing love, and believing
in the quintessential power of improving one's life are always
relevant. Ciara continues to make music, and her love is Russell
Wilson. Ciara told the truth that a man doesn't have to act like a
jerk to be a real man. A man can be cool, kind, strong, and
compassionate at the same time.
Ciara and Russell Wilson personify the beauty of real love
gloriously. She has been inspired by Destiny's Child and Janet
Jackson. Other artists inspire her too from Aaliyah to Missy
Elliot. She worked in the Do Something campaign to invest in
school resources. She is a businesswoman with ties to IMG and
Revlon. As one of the most humble artists in the world, Ciara
continues to make long-lasting contributions in the art of music
plus other spheres of our society.

Ciara and Janet Jackson are great

friends.
In contrast, country music derives from both African and European, as well as Native American and
Hawaiian, traditions. There is nuisance in music, Some forms of U.S. music historically promoted
racism like Dixie and parts of the original national anthem. Other forms of music promote goodness
and inspiration like Whitney Houston’s song Miracles. Artists like Aretha Franklin, Bessie Smith,
Mahalia Jackson, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, John Coltraine, Johnny Cash, Randy Travis, Willie
Nelson, James Brown, Motown artists like The Supremes, Otis Redding, Michael Jackson, The Lost
Poets, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Ritchie Valens, Barbara
Streisand, Tina Turner, Janet Jackson, Nas, Tupac, The Pointer Sisters, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill,
Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, De La Soul, and other artists represent the essence of what music in the
United States of America is all about. Large conglomerates dominate the mainstream music industry.
That is why independent labels are abundant. Therefore, American music is part of the world society.
We live it, we listen to it words, and we are inspired by it

By Timothy
 These divers and scholars (part of Diving with a Purpose movement) were involved in
recovering slave ships that were shipwreck in bodies of water. The last slave ship that came
into America was the Clotilda. It came into Mobile Bay, Alabama in 1859 or 1860. Cudjo
Kazoola Lewis was one slave on the ship. He and others created Africatown in the north
side of Mobile, Alabama. This community maintained their African traditions and Yoruba
language for decades. Kazoola Lewis lived until 1935. The musician Questlove (who is the
famous drummer from the Roots) is related to the slaves kidnapped from West Africa and
sent into America. Charles Lewis and Maggie are his 3X great grandparents. This history
should be known in America plus the world. This story is an African story and an
American story. We realize from the history of black Americans is that the power of
resiliency including courage makes us better as human beings. We shall never forget what
our ancestors have gone through.
\

Asante
The Victory is Ours.
Peace and Blessings Y’all.