Culture Shock

Welcome to Creative Habits, the podcast where we explore the habits and practices of creatives and entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds. In today's episode, we discuss our experiences and understanding of our unique cultural makeup and identify the things that help us move forward as black couples with slight cultural differences that often intersect but at moments clash. 

We bring this topic up to spark conversation based on what we’ve researched, experienced, and witnessed. 

Some say incorporating traditional African practices and values can help African Americans in the search for cultural identity. They feel that some members of the African American community have lost touch with their African roots and that by embracing African culture, they can better connect to their ancestry and history. Supporters of this view contend that African culture values community, family, and respect for elders, all of which could help address some of the issues facing African American communities such as high rates of poverty, substance abuse, and crime.

On the other hand, supporters of African American culture argue that African Americans have developed their own distinct cultural identity over the course of centuries that should be celebrated and celebrated. They contend that African American culture is a unique blend of African, European, and American influences that represents the creativity and resilience of the community. African American culture has produced remarkable contributions in the fields of music, literature, sports, and other areas of creativity, and has come to define American culture as a whole.

However, it is important to recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to this debate. The history of African Americans in the United States has produced unique challenges and opportunities that have shaped and defined an African American culture distinct from African culture. Also, it is important to note that African American culture has been open to adopting aspects of African culture as well as incorporating other cultures such as Caribbean, Latinx, or Asian cultures, making it a diverse, adaptive, and dynamic culture.

Together, we share our perspectives on African vs African American culture, highlighting the differences and similarities in backgrounds, misunderstandings that have helped us grow closer as a couple, and how stereotypes have affected the relationship between both communities and try to find a solution to how we can continue j bridging the gap between understanding of Africans and African Americans.
In Zimbabwe, our cultures and traditions date back centuries and are still very prevalent in our daily lives but coming here, some people can’t trace their lineage as far as I can and other African-born or 1st second or third-generation children of African immigrants can.

However, there are some similarities in terms of values, such as respect for family, community, and elders between my culture and yours. 

Although is not acknowledged we both speak English and have our own language. There are words native to the black DMV experience that is not understood by the general non-African American. 
Also, African Americans have a history of fighting for civil rights and equal treatment in a similar way to that of Zimbabweans did during apartheid however, post-independence, Zimbabwe isn’t fighting for racism but African Americans still are. 

Conclusion: while the debate between African American culture and African culture is complex, both have valuable contributions to make toward the identity of black people worldwide. It is imperative to acknowledge and celebrate the richness and diversity of these distinct cultures while embracing commonalities that unite them. Ultimately, the discussion should not focus on a false dichotomy between the two cultures but rather on how their distinctness and commonalities can be leveraged for healing, reconciliation, and empowerment

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