African-American
U.S. Black identity
African-American describes Black Americans whose ancestors were enslaved in the United States, or more broadly, any American of African descent.
The term emerged in the 1980s as a parallel to Italian-American or Irish-American, emphasizing cultural heritage rather than skin color.
Some prefer it; others prefer Black.
As a noun: African-Americans have shaped every aspect of American culture.
As an adjective: African-American history, the African-American community.
Also spelled African American without the hyphen.
Ownership of people
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- ReconstructionPost-1865 national reunification period
- Jim CrowRacial separation laws
- segregationForced separation by group
civil rights · freedom · liberation · migration · Harlem · abolitionist · Underground Railroad · Juneteenth
African descent identifier
- diasporaScattered population sharing origins
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- ancestryFamily line of descent
- rootsUnderground nutrient absorbers
lineage · ethnicity · community · culture · pride · solidarity · kinship · brotherhood
Innermost animating essence
- jazzImprovisational American music genre
- bluesMournful American music genre
- gospelSacred choral tradition
- hip-hopRhythmic spoken-word music
R&B · funk · Motown · Harlem Renaissance · HBCU · church · barbershop · cookout
Unjust differential treatment
- racismPrejudice based on ethnicity
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
injustice · resistance · activism · protest · NAACP · BLM · empowerment · voter suppression
Having pigment applied
- derogatoryExpressing criticism or disrespect
- offensiveCausing displeasure or attack-oriented
- outdatedNo longer in use
- pejorativeTerm expressing disapproval
slavery
Ownership of people
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- ReconstructionPost-1865 national reunification period
- Jim CrowRacial separation laws
segregation · civil rights · freedom · liberation · migration · Harlem · abolitionist · Underground Railroad · Juneteenth · reparations
Black
African descent identifier
- diasporaScattered population sharing origins
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- ancestryFamily line of descent
roots · lineage · ethnicity · community · culture · pride · solidarity · kinship · brotherhood · sisterhood
soul
Innermost animating essence
- jazzImprovisational American music genre
- bluesMournful American music genre
- gospelSacred choral tradition
hip-hop · R&B · funk · Motown · Harlem Renaissance · HBCU · church · barbershop · cookout · Kwanzaa
discrimination
Unjust differential treatment
- racismPrejudice based on ethnicity
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
inequality · injustice · resistance · activism · protest · NAACP · BLM · empowerment · voter suppression · redlining
colored
Having pigment applied
- derogatoryExpressing criticism or disrespect
- offensiveCausing displeasure or attack-oriented
- outdatedNo longer in use
pejorative · slang · epithet · racism
- Hyphenated IdentitiesFrench-Canadian, Anglo-Canadian, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Brazilian, Indo-Caribbean
African-AmericanEuropean-American
American of continental descent
WASP · Caucasian · Anglo-American · white · Anglo-Saxon
Africa, America, American, African, African-Americans, African American