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From 1865 to 1900, the African-Americans were just stepping into the country as free people. They shaped our culture to a large extent, but then again our culture turned out to shape them as well. It was a give and take process. African-Americans shaped our culture mainly using music and food. We helped shape our own culture with language, education, and religion.

Music is one of the many things that African-Americans are known for, especially jazz music, and later on rock and roll music. In 1871 The Jubilee Singers of Fisk University traveled all over Europe and performed work songs and spirituals. The spiritual songs are now known as “jubilees” (JAZZ). This music group helped African-Americans gain a new sense of respect for their tradition and culture. Jazz bands are now extremely popular today, and have been ever since 1871. The Jim Crow Laws were created shortly after The Civil War, the actual term Jim Crow comes from songs during the Minstrelsy era (JAZZ).

African-Americans are also incredibly well known for contributing food to our culture. Even though it is not in 1865-1900, traditional foods that slaves would make in the 1800’s are; hoecakes (cornmeal cakes) and molasses, spoon bread, crab cakes, corn pone, corn pudding, greens, and succotash (Countries). In the later 1800’s African-American were known for food like fried chicken, pork chops, fish, potato salad, turkey, dressing, rice and gravy, pig’s feet, chitins (hog intestines), collard greens, and ham hocks (Countries). This became known as soul food, which is still incredibly popular in the South and all over the country.

When Americans first went over to Africa there were many different dialects of languages, and there still is today. When Africans came to America their language became infused with Anglo-American words. This formed a language that still used some terms that lingered from their African roots. Eventually when the generation of African-Americans were born the language became almost entirely Anglo-American, and then much like the English we know today.

The American government played a large part in educating African-Americans. Groups were created, called Freedmen’s groups, to provide an education to the former slaves (Countries). In the 1860’s over 2,500 schools were established in the South alone. By 1900 over 2,000 African-Americans had graduated from college. Colleges were given grants from religious organizations and government sponsored organizations. This was most slaves first chance at education.

Some people think that Africans brought over a religion of their own, but this is not entirely true. The Portuguese thought the Africans Christianity during the sixteenth century. They were very resentful of the religion, this is because many of the slaves associated Christianity with the slave trade. Eventually the first African-American congregation was formed in the late 18th century. In the late 1800's they started the Back to Africa program, this program attempted to "unite African-Americans politically."

African-Americans played a very large role in shaping our culture, not only from 1865-1900, but from the moment they were brought to America in 1619. They have shaped our culture specifically through their music and food. We have also played a counteractive role by helping shape our culture as well. We contributed by language, education, and religion. Works Cited "Countries and Their Cultures." //African Americans//. Web. 01 Mar. 2012. .

"JAZZ HISTORY TIMELINE." //Jazz History Timeline//. 2002. Web. 01 Mar. 2012. .