Abandonment and Dismemberment: "Something Torn and New"

After the lecture taught this week by Dr. Mario Beatty; I was left highly informed and eager for the next lecture to expand on the points that were made. Three keys points that stood out to me was idea of how Africans felt dismembered from their past life, their contribution to human progression using science and technology, and their creation of social structure, language, and self goverance. Dr. Beatty began the lecture by involving students so that they could understand the African people on an emotional level during their experience of slavery and whilethey were in the Middle Passage. We began to think of ways they became dismembered from their own culture. It is an obvious fact that they felt dismembered, but Dr. Beatty brought to our attention a less obvious fact: Africans were dismembered, but they didnt completely loose everything. They still had there hope and their faith. The way they danced, the way they sang, the stories they told never changed. Who they were as a people still remained. They were still strong and their bond only got stronger.
Historians define dimembermant as loss and emptiness, but it was argued that though they had these feelings, they were'nt severe enough to keep themselves from progressing. Despite their suppression they still were able to contribute to human progression showing their great strength. They made jobs for themselves and created the tools to do the jobs effieciently. They made their own musical instrustments, medicine, cultivated their own food, and made their own tools and supplies.
Not only did they contribute to science and technology, but they also created a lifestyle for themselves. I learned during the lecture that they created they own social structure; meaning they created roles of the people within their communities and the duties of that role. They also created a hierachy to create some sort of order within their culture. Finally, they used what they were taught (Christianity) and Re-Africanized the Christian religion to make it their own.
By considering all three points, I have concluded this fact: When taken away from the previous lives, Africans felt a sense of dismemberment form their culture. Thoughnthey experienced this natural emotion, despite what historians teach, they remained true to themselves, and ultimately took a horrible situation and made good of it. They learned to work together to create their own language, social stucture, technology, and science.