Journal Entry of a Subordinate Group Member
Dear journal, the term African American is usually associated with people living within the western hemisphere that their descendent originated from Africa. Though not voluntary Africans were brought over to what is now known as the United States as slaves. This is how we, became known as African American. I am an African American and this is my story.
The migration and colonization started around the 17th century when Africans were transported from West Africa to America as slaves. We were sold or traded to colonists who were already established in the New World. Primarily as labors to develop the country a second migration movement came after the Revolutionary War when more Africans were involuntary brought over to the eastern portion of the states primarily in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee.
In the late 1800s there was an estimated 4,000,000 black slaves in the states and mostly in the southern region. After several indifferences within the country a Civil war began in 1861 and lasted until 1865. This was an effort to unify the nation and to end slavery as we know it. President Lincoln emancipated the slaves in 1863 but it wasn’t until 1865 that the 13th amendment was added into the Constitution of the United States abolishing slavery completely.
Then came the reconstruction period as we the nation tried to rebuild itself with the war ended and the country moving in a new direction. Many of the previously owned slaves moved out from the southern states in search of new land and start. This was late known as the Great Migration. Many moved to northern regions of the states but several stated in the south do to the plantation owners providing them land and jobs if they stayed on as workers. Many had taken on the previous master’s last name and this started the traceable lineage we can follow until