From Negro Expression to Black Expression:

The Evolution of Black American Culture

By Jerriona Leonard

Culture & Spirituality

Spirituality in the Black community is a big part of the overall culture. Vodun was a common spiritual practice amongst West African people that eventually spread to Haiti and Louisiana. Many enslaved Black people in America continued to practice their native religions but were banned from doing so by their enslavers. Slaves were forced to practice Christianity instead and were given copies of “The Slave Bible” that excluded many books of the real Bible. In response, they developed Hoodoo, which drew on West African spirituality and Native American traditions and included elements of American Christianity. It incorporated the honoring of ancestors, petitioning, and utilizing spiritual power found in the natural environment. It emphasized intuition and divine knowledge. As slavery progressed and eventually ended, many Black people moved away from Hoodoo and spirituality and began exclusively practicing Christianity. However, practices like cleansing with water, using oil and salt to cast out evil spirits, and praying Psalms can be seen in Black Christian churches today. In Black households, the mixture of different herbs and spices to make “home remedies” for mental and physical healing is common, even amongst people who don’t call it Hoodoo. Spiritual practices that are common in New Age Spirituality, such as manifestation, candle work, and burning herbs like incense and sage, have also come from hoodoo and early African spiritual practices. Many Black people, as well as others, Practice forms of spirituality that stemmed from early Black culture without even knowing.

Music & Dance

(pre-enslavement

to early 1980’s)

Music and dance in African cultures has been an important part of their culture for many years. Performance was not only for entertainment, but it served spiritual and healing purposes as well. For example, Mapouka, a form of African dance involving fast hip and butt movement, was said to be healing and release tension. It was also used to stimulate blood Flow and improve reproductive health. This dance has led to current variations of the dance such as Twerking, bouncing, etc. that are incorporated in performances and done for entertainment. After being brought to America, enslaved Black people continued to perform dance and music, despite limited resources. Negro spirituals and work songs were performed among enslaved people, and eventually this evolved into gospels, blues, and what is now recognized as rock and roll. These genres led to different styles of dancing, such as the twist and the Hand Jive. The RnB genre followed, along with Black pop artists like Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and then the formation of Rap. Soul train was a Black TV platform that contributed heavily to black dance and music. Roller-skating also became a popular form of Black performance. Boy Bands and girl groups emerged as well, along with BET, which further evolved Black dance and choreography.

Music & Dance

(late 1980’s-current)

Hip-hop became a more popular genre of music after the formation of the sub-genre, “Gangsta rap”. NWA, Tupac, Nas, and other prominent rappers were rising to the top. Later, Female rappers like Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, and Queen Latifah were also rising stars. Many RnB groups started to shift from more of a polished, romantic, clean genre to a sexy, edgy style of music. MTV was founded around this time, providing another platform for music videos and performances. In the late 90’s, Black music was becoming even more versatile and creative, as more rappers were entering the industry, such as Lil Wayne, J. Cole and Outkast, changing and diversifying the sound even more. RnB singers also adopted a more sensual, edgy style of music. Destiny’s child, TLC, and En vogue dominated the field, along with solo artists like Brandy, Monica, and Toni Braxton. Line dancing, sexy dances like the “Tootsie Roll” and the “Butterfly,” and the Hammer Dance were popular in the 90’s. Early 2000’s-2010’s produced a huge shift in RnB and rap; Beyonce became a solo artist, making popular hits like “Single Ladies” and “déjà vu,” shifting RnB to a more upbeat genre. Chris brown, Nicki Minaj, and drake were also rising to fame. During the 2010’s, Rap became more dance-centered, and the creation of social media platforms amplified that change. Dances like “Hit The Quan” and “Mop” became popular. RnB artists like SZA, The Weeknd, and Frank ocean brought a newer, more alternative sound to the genre. Female rappers like Cardi B, Megan thee Stallion, and Doja cat became popular after the late 2010’s as well, shifting rap away from being a male dominated space. Now, many different genres exist within the community of Black artists.

Fashion & Style

Before enslavement, African societies used clothing, jewelry, and body mods to show status, spirituality, tribal affiliation, and personal identity. cloth, beads, cowrie shells, and intricate hairstyles were symbolic and tied to community meaning. During enslavement, fashion became heavily restricted, yet Black people still found ways to maintain cultural expression through garments, headwraps, and handmade clothing. Even under oppression, style functioned as both survival and resistance, preserving pieces of African identity while adapting to forced conditions. In the early 1900’s, Black fashion began to shift as people moved into urban spaces. The Harlem Renaissance played a major role in this evolution, where elegance, tailored suits, glamorous dresses, and bold styling became a way to assert dignity, creativity, and intellectual presence in society. By the 1980s and 1990s, fashion became closely tied to music and performance culture. Hip hop influenced oversized clothing, sneakers, gold jewelry, and streetwear aesthetics, while RnB artists shaped bold and experimental styles that mixed femininity, confidence, and edge. Fashion became even more visible through music videos and platforms like MTV, which amplified Black style worldwide. In the 2000s and 2010s, Black fashion expanded through celebrity culture and social media. Artists like Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Kanye West influenced luxury fashion, streetwear collaborations, and high fashion spaces that were previously less accessible to Black artists. Instagram and other platforms allowed everyday style to become part of global trends.

Today, Black fashion continues to evolve as a highly influential and diverse space where luxury, streetwear, natural hair movements, gender expression, and cultural pride all intersect.