Date of Award

Spring 1992

Document Type

Restricted Thesis

Terms of Use

© 1992 C. Kemal Nance. All rights reserved. Access to this work is restricted to users within the Swarthmore College network and may only be used for non-commercial, educational, and research purposes. Sharing with users outside of the Swarthmore College network is expressly prohibited. For all other uses, including reproduction and distribution, please contact the copyright holder.

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Black Studies Program, Sociology & Anthropology Department

First Advisor

Hilliard Pouncy

Second Advisor

Sharon E. Friedler

Third Advisor

Miguel Díaz-Barriga

Abstract

Have you ever had the feeling that you are living in history as it repeats itself? Particularly in the dance arena, have you seen things appear and reappear in social dance formations? No matter how culturally rich the African-American experience is, it is marked by oppressive attempts by white people to determine the context of every cultural aspect. Because of this, African-Americans must regulate what mainstream culture uses from the experience. The African-American experience is one that cannot afford to have anything taken from it. This utilization of African-American culture is the foundation on which appropriation is based. This paper is the author’s efforts to reclaim an indigenous part of African-American culture, dance and the struggle with issues of cultural expression in the United States.

Keywords

African American dance, African Americans--Race identity, African Americans in the performing arts

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