African+American+Artwork

African American Ghanian American Immigration by Ellis Opoku According to David Boyle of //African Americans,// "...the physical process of emigration is an act of liberation..." thus, the large number of African Americans brought to America due to slavery, does not count as emigration. However, there were many West Africans who emigrated to America post Civil War era, around the 1870s, when there was more equality among blacks and whites. Ghanaian Immigrants spent a couple of hours at Ellis Island if their papers are in order and were of good health. When they were released, the immigrants usually settled in the ethnic ghettos by the port cities. They searched for jobs usually in factories, and in those rough times many were exposed to harsh working conditions.

The African American slaves contibuted much of their culture into America, such as, ragtime, blues, jazz, oral tradition,soul food, and many more. Although the slaves arent considered immigrants, their contributions still live on through modern immigrants but with its modern twist to keep up with American culture. I chose the movie,The Color Purple, directed by Steven Spielberg, which shows female oppression in the South. At the end of the movie, the main character, Celie, is able to obtain an industrialized job instead of working outdoors all day. The main character's sister, Nettie, is Akosua Busia, an Ghanaian American actress, who plays an important part by giving her sister hope. Akosua Busia is the daughter of the ex-prime minister of Ghana. She married John Singleton, an American film-maker, but they are currently divorced. I also chose the album, Gold Coast (Ghana),by Rhian Benson, a Ghanaian American jazz and soul singer. Rhian Benson was born in Accra, Ghana and she began writing music and poetry at an early age. She moved to America after being discovered by an American label.

The themes of The Color Purple are sexism and racism, beliefs in God, and female relationships. The jazz age was refered to as The Roaring Twenties. It was a time of economic boom and the creation of this new form of music took on a distinctive form of self-expression and creativity. These themes' part in the American voice, show an evolution of sentiments towards individuals. The Color Purple had a large cast of African American; however, the movie was enjoyed by people of all races. Jazz, often associated with African American, were enjoyed by a mix of blacks and whites and eventually, white bands were also formed. During the earlier years of the American nation, immigrants were looked down upon and the newer groups of immigrants were on the bottom of the chain. However, later on, the nation began to be more tolerant of other people and cultures. media type="youtube" key="teBV-xu9gFQ?fs=1" height="294" width="344" align="center"

I'm In A Bind by Rhian Benson from the album //Gold Coast// The Color Purple directed by Steven Spielberg based on Alice Walker's novel

Erica Jakub



Nonfiction Book written by Benson Deng, Alephonsion Deng & Benjamin Ajak: three lost boys from Sudan

Painting by Mario Lual Deng "Refugee from Sudan" African American Immigrants: Lost Boys of Sudan From the year 1980 to 2005 more than 810,000 African Immigrants emigrated to America. Although African Americans have been living in America for a long time, some even came in the 1600s, but most of the previous African Americans were forced to board ships headed for America and then were forced into slavery. Even though these Africans “emigrated” from their native place and came to America, their experience doesn’t really fit in the category as immigrants since they were transported to America for slavery and did not have any choice in their journey.

Sudan is a country in Africa located near Egypt, on the Northeast side of Africa. This country alone has had many wars and riots break out; majority of the conflict occurs in Southern Sudan, which is described as battlefield. In 1983 a civil war broke out between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, rebel group, and the central government of Sudan. About two million people died from the war, famine and disease and roughly four million people were dislocated from their homes and either went to refugee camps. Many of the young children who were separated from their families had to walk over one thousand miles to find available refugee camps. After many months of traveling, fighting off predators, starvation and attacking militia; they finally had the opportunity to come to America and start over. Once these groups of boy traveled to America, they experience many new things. Some of the boys have never even seen a plane and others didn’t even comprehend how a man could have landed on a moon. They had a hard time adjusting to the busy industrial society that America is that at times it became overwhelming. After a couple of months just getting used to their new homes, some of the older Lost Boys had the opportunity to get jobs and when it came down to getting their first paycheck they didn’t understand how they could have so much money in one single piece of paper. All in all they eventually adapted and many are helping other refugees and living successful lives.

The America culture that we know today has been shaped by all different immigrant groups. African American artists have influenced the medias in American through their clothing, music, pottery, and even writing. Two different arts I chose were a nonfiction book and a painting by a refuge. The book, // They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky, //was written by three refuge boys from Sudan. It is a nonfiction book that all three of them wrote depicting their journey to America. I chose this book because it sheds light onto the hardships of others and it gave people a first hand account of what actually occurred. The theme of this book, hardships and hope, allowed for other immigrants and future artists to convey their feelings and express how they too had to overcome rough parts in their life. This book allowed for others to find a voice and express themselves and what they endured. The painting I chose was “Refugee from Sudan” by Mario Lual Deng, His painting shows an injured refugee without a leg carrying a sack of food and no one is left in the camp. The war affected many parts of Sudan that in some places there was no one left; in some cultures in Sudan the wounded are cared for by everyone but here there is no one who can help this man since his village has been torn apart. With his painting he brought awareness to issues around the world and shows how in times of need there can be no left to help you. This influenced the American voice by allowing others to use their art to stand up for themselves and to do something about the oppression they face. If people can unite with each other and come together to make things better than no one would ever face the position the legless refugee did.