African Americans

African Americans

Distribution of African Americans in the United States, 2020

African Americans are an ethnic group of Americans with total or partial ancestry from any of the black racial groups of Africa. The term typically refers to descendants of enslaved black people who are from the United States.

History

Origins

Regions of Africa from which enslaved people were taken

The history of African Americans begins with the transatlantic slave trade, where millions of Africans were forcibly transported to the Americas as part of the Atlantic slave trade. The majority of these enslaved people were taken from the western and central regions of Africa.

Slavery in America

Enslaved Africans working in a tobacco field in Virginia, 1670

Slavery in the United States began in the early 17th century. The first recorded arrival of enslaved Africans in the English colonies was in 1619 in Virginia. Over the next two centuries, slavery became deeply entrenched in the southern economy.

Depiction of a slave auction in 1655

Slave auctions were a common practice, where enslaved individuals were sold to the highest bidder. Advertisements for these auctions were widespread, as seen in historical documents.

Resistance and Abolition

Advertisement for a runaway slave, 1774

Throughout the period of slavery, there were numerous acts of resistance by enslaved people, including rebellions and escapes. The Underground Railroad was a network that helped enslaved people escape to free states and Canada.

Civil War and Emancipation

African American soldier during the Civil War

The American Civil War (1861-1865) was a pivotal moment in African American history. The Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 declared the freedom of all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory.

Notable Figures

Crispus Attucks

Crispus Attucks

Crispus Attucks is often regarded as the first person killed in the Boston Massacre, making him the first American casualty in the American Revolutionary War.

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was a former enslaved person who became a leading abolitionist, writer, and orator. His autobiographies are considered important works in American literature.

Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman was an abolitionist and political activist. Born into slavery, she escaped and subsequently made some 13 missions to rescue approximately 70 enslaved people, including family and friends, using the network of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad.

Culture and Contributions

African Americans have made significant contributions to American culture, particularly in the fields of music, art, literature, and politics. The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement in the 1920s that celebrated black cultural expression.

Related pages

• Slavery in the United States
• Civil Rights Movement
• Harlem Renaissance
• African American culture

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  Advertisement for a slave auction

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  Slaves waiting for sale in Richmond, Virginia

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