Fiveable
Fiveable

African-Americans

Definition

African-Americans are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with total or partial ancestry from any of the black racial groups of Africa. They have significantly influenced and contributed to the United States' history and culture.

Analogy

African-Americans are like a key ingredient in a recipe that makes up America. Just as you can't make a cake without flour, you can't discuss American history without acknowledging the significant role played by African-Americans.

Related terms

Slavery: A system where individuals known as slaves are treated as property and forced to work.

Jim Crow Laws: State and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern United States enacted after the Reconstruction period until 1965.

Harlem Renaissance: An intellectual, social, and artistic explosion centered in Harlem, New York spanning the 1920s which was considered a golden age for African American culture.



© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.