Changes

==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 Licoln]].  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 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.

==Religion==

==Religion==

The majority of African Americans are members of Christian congregations, with [[Baptist]] and [[Methodist]] affiliations being among the most common.  Many 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.  Many 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.