Are family competitions the highlight of the family get-together in African-American culture? Obviously, I'm not African-American, so I don't know. Sure, we throw up a net and play some Sepak takraw, but it's just for fun.
Some of my friends who are African American say that they never have elaborate multi-event competitions that incorporate singing/ dancing/ athletics at their get-togethers as portrayed in recent film.
Yes we do !!! We compete for trophies in pool, spades, dominos, swimming and storytelling (which is the best because the stories are about members of the family, some who have passed on-the younger members of the family love it because the stories are always humorous). We eat and laugh and talk crazy to each other. On Sunday, we all go to church. The competions are competitive and the bragging never stops. We have done it every year for the last five years. Last year after church, we all went to a Tyler Perry movie-all forty of us!!! We have so much fun just being together.
Sounds like a good time!
share"Obviously, I'm not African-American"
How is that obvious? Up to the point where you made that statement, there was nothing in your post to indicate what your race is.
At our large family gatherings the focus is on food, conversation, slideshows of old photographs and entertainment. We may play family games, but it's not for hardcore competitions.
The whole "family competition" trend varies from family to family, but I don't think it's a cultural thing per se.