Exclusivity of Music and Language

Cultural Assimilation can be seen through more than just choice of costumes on Halloween, it can be seen through things as such as language and Music. This country is full of many kinds of people and so many cultures; a way for them to remain cohesive is through their language and their music. When having to assimilate into American Culture, they have to learn the English language and often times that results in a culturally unique interpretation of the Language. This form of English becomes their own and although that may make them vulnerable to misunderstanding and stereotyping, it contributes to unity within the community. The first example that comes to mind, is the way that African Americans speak English and the way that their language is significant to their culture.   When African  Americans  began  to  learn the English  language they  mixed it with  certain  words or forms of speech  that  originated from their native languages, over time this created the need to  label their form  of speech as something uniquely  different than the English language. Through this came what can currently be referred to as Ebonics by linguist specialists.   Given that they formed this language within themselves, whether it is considered slang or actual language, gives them a sense of entitlement to it. This version of the English language has become a part of the African American Culture. Due to their feeling of entitlement it becomes invasive when individuals of other races adopt their form of speech to create something of themselves, such as rap/ hip hop artists. African Americans already have a long history  of being robbed of their freedom  and their rights, hearing others take their language as their own is set to  be upsetting. Not only that, but the African  American  Version  of English  is often  times referred to  as Ghetto, or ratchet  when  used by  African  Americans  but considered a part of pop culture when  used by  others. For example there is Justin Bieber and Iggy Azalea, they are both clearly  not African  American however they  talk and even  preform  as if they  were. They  have both  emerged into the pop / hip hop  world embracing that Hip  hop  culture, which  is considered to be predominantly  black.

They are often criticized for trying to  be a part of hip hop  culture because of their appearance and their back  ground. Hip hop music embraces the struggle and resilience that has come from living as an African America, giving them  room  to  feel they  are the only ones that should have the right to  create music through  their Language.