For general discussion of dark-skinned people, see Black people.
An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. Many African Americans have a degree of European, Native American, Asian and/or Latin American ancestry as well. The term refers specifically to black African ancestry; not, for example, to white or Arab African ancestry, such as Moroccan or white South African ancestry. Definitively, African American means an American of black African descent. The majority of African Americans are the descendants of enslaved Africans transported from West and Central Africa to North America from 1609 through 1807 during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Others have arrived through more recent immigration from the Caribbean, South America and Africa. Blacks from African and non-African countries are oftentimes referred to by their nations of origin; however in general, the cultural assumption is that if a person is black, native English-speaking and living in the United States, he or she is African American.
Nomenclature
The term "African American" has been in common usage in the United States since the late 1980s, when greater numbers of African Americans began to adopt the term self-referentially. Black nationalist Malcolm X favored the descriptive term "African American" as more historically and culturally defining over "Negro" and "black" and used the term at an OAAU (Organization of Afro American Unity) meeting in the early 1960s, saying, "Twenty-two million African Americans - that's what we are - Africans who are in America." Former NBA player/coach Lenny Wilkens is another who used the term as a teenager in the 1950's when filling out a job application.
More on [ African American ]
African American Fraternities and Sororities - Links to sites of Black Fraternities and Sororities.
Meta Description: [ A Website about African American people. Individual focus on Black women, men and children. ]
Black Greek Network - An African American professional organization providing an opportunity for forming strategic relationships with like-minded business people composed of entrepreneurs, community leaders and business proprietors. Members are given opportunities to network in a relaxed social environment both on-line and off line.
Brothers and Sisters - Black fraternity and sorority paraphernalia and information.
Gamma Beta Tau Step Club - A high school club in Fort Worth, Texas dedicated to the ethnic art of stepping, the combination of rhythmic movements of African origin. Performances for NPHC and other organizations.
Great Lakes Blue and White - A group designed for the members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. in the Great Lakes Region.
Meta Description: [ GL_Blue_and_White: Great Lakes Zetas & Sigmas ]
Just Nongreeks - A site created especially for non-greek and sweetheart organizations. Greeks and GDIs are welcome.
Meta Description: [ an online community for female and male nongreek organizations, The online community for nongreek and sweetheart organizations! ]
Sororitysister.net - Sororitysister.net is an online guide to sororities for women of color. Site includes links, book reviews and descriptions of sororities for women of all colors.
Meta Description: [ Sororitysister.net Your on-line guide to sororities for women of color/multicultural sororities ]
The Golden Ring of Ivy - A webring of chapter and personal homepages for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Meta Description: [ This ring is dedicated to the First Family of Black greeks--Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. 06' 08', the rest were just too late. It will include Chapter Homepa ]