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Black Americans are an old and culturally diverse population that has been able to maintain their characteristics and develop them. A selected article by Johnson and Carter suggests the development and maintenance of cultural identity, which has its characteristics, is influenced by racial socialization and identity. The study’s main purpose is to explain the relationship between the various facets of black culture and collective identity to understand further the factors that have enabled blacks in the United States to survive and progress.
In the US, blacks were initially considered culturally inferior; as a result, there was an opinion that their culture was an assimilation of the culture of whites as a result of their interaction. However, sociologists and historians have identified cultural values that originated in African tribal communities and survived in Black America (Johnson & Carter, 2019). The study presented in the article aims to explain the aspects that influenced the formation of the cultural identity of black Americans. That, in turn, helped them survive racial persecution and maintain mental health.
According to the article, black cultural values arose and developed not because of contact between black Americans and whites but despite them. Black people had to develop ways to deal with the oppression they had experienced for centuries. Researchers have found that seeking social support and a sense of community mitigate the adverse effects of racism. The authors argue that aspects of collective identity (such as racial socialization) are rooted in culture (Johnson & Carter, 2019). The older generations help the descendants develop the skills necessary to be competent in a cultural group.
Johnson and Carter argue that cultural values and racial identity help in the fight against racism. For example, racial identity was tied to a family and collectivist orientation prevalent in the African community. In addition, the belief in unity had a positive effect on the management of blacks in their thoughts and, with it, their behavior (Johnson & Carter, 2019). Thus, the collective values of blacks can be considered interdependent with African values, and hence it is essential to consider them as cultural strengths.
Interestingly, the psychosocial well-being of black Americans has been linked to racial identity. That was based on the pride of blacks and their contribution to their own culture, as well as tolerance for other minorities. Feelings of intimacy with other blacks were inversely related to depressive symptoms (Johnson & Carter, 2019). Improved mental health and increased self-esteem are associated with the internalization of attitudes toward racial identity (Johnson & Carter, 2019). Thus, higher racial orientation and personal respect were associated with more stable psychological health.
This article is helpful for my research as it reveals the peculiarity of the preservation and dissemination of the cultural identity of black Americans. This study has limitations, which the authors point out: the study is rather narrowly focused for the most part. It is due to the history and culture of black Americans, so the results may differ depending on the culturally diverse population. However, concerning the group I have chosen, the study is objective and valid and aims to describe ways to deal with vulnerability within the minority.
It is necessary to understand the origins when studying black Americans’ cultural characteristics. In addition, understanding how culture educates people and how it spreads and influences will help to understand the topic better. That is why the article by Johnson and Carter is helpful for my research. It helps me form an idea of the cohesion of the black minority and explain its features. I noticed that members of the same group have cohesive relationships, and after reading the article, I understood the reasons that apply to black Americans.
Reference
Johnson, V. E., & Carter, R. T. (2019). Black cultural strengths and psychosocial well-being: An empirical analysis with Black American adults.Journal of Black Psychology, 46(1), 55–89. Web.
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