African Americans

Quick Facts: Who was African Americans?

Subject:

African Americans

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An American racial and ethnic group with deep roots in the transatlantic slave trade.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

African Americans or Black Americans, also formerly called Afro-Americans, are an American racial and ethnic group. As defined by the United States census, they are Americans who have ancestry from "any of the Black racial groups of Africa". African Americans constitute the third-largest racial and ethnic group in the U.S., following White Americans and Hispanic and Latino Americans. In the ethnic group sense, the term "African American" generally denotes descendants of Africans enslaved in the United States. According to annual estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, as of July 1, 2024, the overall Black population was estimated at 42,951,595, representing approximately 12.63% of the total U.S. population.

Career & Major Achievements

African-American history began in the 16th century, when mainly West African and Central African slave traders sold African artisans, farmers, and warriors to European slave traders, who transported them across the Atlantic to the Western Hemisphere. They were sold as slaves to European colonists and put to work on plantations, particularly in the southern colonies. A few were able to achieve freedom through manumission or escape, and founded independent communities before and during the American Revolution. After the United States was founded in 1783, most American Black people continued to be enslaved, primarily in the American South, with four million enslaved people only liberated after the Northern victory over the South in the Civil War of 1861 to 1865. During Reconstruction, African Americans gained citizenship and adult males the right to vote; however, due to widespread belief in White supremacy, they were treated as second-class citizens and soon effectively disenfranchised in the South.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

These circumstances changed due to participation in the military conflicts of the United States, substantial migration out of the South, the elimination of legal racial segregation, and the civil rights movement, which sought political and social freedom. However, racism against African Americans and racial socioeconomic disparity remain as problems into the 21st century. In the 20th and 21st centuries, immigration has played an increasingly significant role in the African-American community. As of 2022, 10% of the U.S. Black population were immigrants, and 20% were either immigrants or the children of immigrants. While some Black immigrants or their children may also come to identify as African American, the majority of first-generation immigrants do not, preferring to identify with their nation of origin.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1783: 1783 Milestone — After the United States was founded in 1783, most American Black people continued to be enslaved, primarily in the American South, with four million enslaved people only liberated after the Northern victory over the South in the Civil War of 1861 to 1865.
2. 2024: 2024 Milestone — Census Bureau, as of July 1, 2024, the overall Black population was estimated at 42,951,595, representing approximately 12.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: African Americans

True or False: “The first recorded Africans in English America arrived as free citizens who immediately gained full property rights.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The first recorded Africans in English America arrived in 1619 primarily as indentured servants, and their status was initially similar to slavery.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Abdülmecid I — Historical peer (Died in 1861) (1861): 31st Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, known for initiating the Tanzimat era of reform.
• Aleksey Yermolov — Historical peer (Died in 1861) (1861): Prominent Russian general known for service in the Napoleonic Wars and the Caucasian Campaign.
• A. P. Hill — Historical peer (Died in 1865) (1865): Confederate general who distinguished himself in the American Civil War.
• Abraham Isaac Kook — Historical peer (Born in 1865) (1865): Pioneering Orthodox Rabbi and Father of Religious Zionism.
• Aaron Carter — Historical peer (Died in 2022) (2022): American singer and rapper known for teen pop stardom and enduring musical career.
• Alexander Vovin — Historical peer (Died in 2022) (2022): Pioneering Russian-American linguist specializing in East Asian languages, particularly Japanese.

Frequently Asked Questions about African Americans