African American refers to Americans who are descended from people who were brought from Africa to what is now the United States as enslaved people, primarily between the 1600s and 1800s. The term often describes Black Americans whose ancestors endured slavery in the United States, distinguishing them from Black immigrants who came to America more recently from Africa, the Caribbean, or elsewhere.

African Americans have profoundly shaped American culture, contributing essential innovations in music (jazz, blues, rock and roll, hip-hop), literature, science, sports, and virtually every field of American life. From the spirituals sung during slavery to modern achievements in technology and medicine, African American creativity and perseverance have been woven into the fabric of the nation.

The term became widely used in the late 1980s as a way to acknowledge both heritage and citizenship. Someone whose family has been in America for many generations is as American as anyone else, while “African American” recognizes the distinct historical experience and cultural traditions that connect back to African roots.

Some people use “Black” and “African American” interchangeably, while others make careful distinctions. A recent immigrant from Nigeria, for example, would be a Black American but might not identify as African American, since their family's experience differs from those whose ancestors lived through American slavery and its aftermath.