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"African American" is the politically correct term applied to Americans with African ancesory. Since these were brought to America as slaves beginning four centuries ago, the vast majority of African Americans have [[European]] and [[American Indian]] ancestry as well as African.

"African American" is the term used to describe the ethnic background of Americans with African ancestry. Because many African Americans are descended from Africans brought to America as slaves beginning four centuries ago, the vast majority of African Americans today have [[European]] and [[American Indian]] ancestry as well as African.

==History==

==History==

Black people were originally brought to America to serve as slaves in southeastern states where large-scale agriculture was predominant. During the [[Civil War]], the slaves in states in "open rebellion" were freed by the [[Emancipation Proclamation]], which was signed by President [[Abraham Lincoln]].  Freedom, however, did not necesarrily bring an improvement in conditions, as the system of [[sharecropping]] instituted after the end of the war left many ex-slaves in a continuing cycle of povery.  In large part as a result, many African Americans migrated in the early twentieth century to the northeastern and midwestern states, where they could find wage-paying jobs.

Black people were originally brought to America to serve as slaves in southeastern states where large-scale agriculture was predominant. During the [[Civil War]], the slaves in states in "open rebellion" were freed by the [[Emancipation Proclamation]], which was signed by President [[Abraham Lincoln]].  Freedom, however, did not necessarily bring an improvement in conditions, as the system of [[sharecropping]] instituted after the end of the war left many ex-slaves in a continuing cycle of poverty.  In large part as a result, many African Americans migrated in the early twentieth century to the northeastern and midwestern states, where they could find wage-paying jobs.

==Religion==

==Religion==

The majority of African Americans are members of Christian congregations, with [[Baptist]] and [[Methodist]] affiliations being among the most common.  Some also belong to [[Islamic]] organizations, including the [[Nation of Islam]] founded by [[Elijah Muhammed]], to which group [[Malcolm X]] belonged to until the last years of his life.

The majority of African Americans are members of Christian congregations, with [[Baptist]] and [[Methodist]] affiliations being among the most common ^{citation needed}.  Some also belong to [[Islamic]] organizations, including the [[Nation of Islam]] founded by [[Elijah Muhammed]], to which group [[Malcolm X]] belonged to until the last years of his life.