Afroamerikaner

Afroamerikaner is a Danish term used for people in the United States who are descended from Africans and are part of the African American community. The term largely corresponds to the English "African American" and is used to describe both historical communities and contemporary individuals who identify with this heritage.

Most Afroamerikanere trace their ancestry to enslaved Africans brought to the United States from the 17th to 19th centuries. After the Civil War, legal segregation in the Jim Crow era reinforced racial boundaries. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s and subsequent social movements expanded political rights and cultural visibility for Afroamerikanere.

Afroamerikanere have contributed to U.S. culture across arts, science, sports, and politics—examples include figures in music, literature, and civil rights leadership. They have shaped and reflected broad social changes, influencing national conversations about equality, identity, and democracy.

In Danish usage the term is generally understood and used in media, academia, and everyday speech. In the United States, the corresponding term is "African American" and the broader category "Black" is used in many contexts. Self-identification remains an important aspect of how individuals are described and discussed.

Contemporary Afroamerikanere experience ongoing debates about race, representation, and systemic racism. Demographic and sociopolitical changes have increased visibility and dialogue about equality, criminal justice, education, and economic opportunity. See also: African American; Black or African American (U.S. census term).