Question

african life and culture in colonial america
how did enslaved africans preserve their cultural heritage in the american colonies?
through written correspondence
through storytelling, music, and dance
through establishing formal schools
enslaved africans in colonial america faced harsh conditions, yet they developed ways to resist their enslavement, as well as protect and pass down their cultural heritage. over time, elements of african culture became a fundamental part of american society.

• oral traditions: plantation owners prohibited enslaved people from learning to read and write to prevent them from communicating and organizing in secret, or from documenting their stories and preserving their culture. the music, art of speech and storytelling empowered the enslaved people to pass down their culture, histories, stories, and customs. storytelling, music, and dance served as both emotional outlets and cultural preservation tools.

Explanation:

1. Analyze the option "Through written correspondence": Enslaved Africans were often prohibited from learning to read and write by plantation owners, so written correspondence was not a feasible way for them to preserve culture.
2. Analyze the option "Through storytelling, music, and dance": The text mentions that since they were restricted from reading/writing, they used oral traditions like storytelling, and music/dance as cultural preservation tools, which matches this option.
3. Analyze the option "Through establishing formal schools": Enslaved Africans did not have the ability to establish formal schools due to their status and restrictions by slave owners.

Answer:

B. Through storytelling, music, and dance