Misconceptions

• It's a myth that African American urban cultures consists of this amalgamate blob of people who all share the same tastes, opinions and proclivities. As with any culture, African American culture is as eclectic as shades of black complexions. There are differences based on generation, geography, religion, economics and education. This diversity is often overlooked, however, in the portrayal of African American culture in the media, sometimes perpetuated by African Americans themselves. Some of the most typical stereotypes see urban black men portrayed (at worst) as criminals and (at best) as sidekicks to white counterparts. Black woman are often cast as whores and "welfare queens" or sassy-mouthed aggressors.
  
  

Development

• The urban African American culture really began to grow and take form beginning around 1910 with what's been termed as "the great migration." This marked the beginning of a migratory shift that saw many black people move from underdeveloped areas in the rural South, to the more industrial cities in the North. This shift was motivated by many factors including economics, racism, and to some extent even word-of-mouth advertising.
  
  

Geographical Influence

• Today there are African American communities in cities all throughout the United States. And in each of these communities, African American urban culture has a different kind of flavor. Communities are influenced by environment. This is no less true of African American urban culture. Language dialects vary from city to city, so does the styles of dress. Plus the general spirit of the people takes on a different feel from community to community partly because each community has a different history. Consider the rich "renaissance" history of Harlem, for instance, as compared to city such as Atlanta, which was deeply embroiled in the civil rights movement. Blacks in both cities today have vibrant art movements, but the style of the arts produced in each city is distinct.
  
  

Music

• African American urban culture has given birth to many worldwide musical styles. Jazz, which is considered a uniquely American form of music, has its roots in the African American urban culture of late nineteenth century New Orleans; and was later on further cultivated in cities like Chicago, New York, St. Louis and Philadelphia. R&B music, which is a blend of blues, jazz, and black rock-n-roll, was also developed in the heart of the 1940s African American urban culture. Rap music has a history that goes back to the days of American slavery, but the general style and format of rap music was born in Bronx, New York in the 1970s.
  
  

Shift Reversal

• The migration shift that began the African American urban culture has begun to reverse itself. Beginning in the 1970s, and really picking up in the 1990s. U.S. Census Bureau migration statistics have shown that many African Americans are now choosing to move from urban areas in the North to urban areas in the South, to cities like Atlanta and Houston. This continual movement and reshaping of different communities is part of what makes the African American urban culture so dynamic.