| Notables (U.S.): Angélique Kidjo · Hakeem Olajuwon · Kwame Anthony Appiah · Charlize Theron |
| Total population |
|---|
| 1,035,253 [1][2][3] |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Washington, D.C., New York, Minneapolis, California, Dallas, Atlanta, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Houston |
| Languages |
|
English (African English, American English), Arabic, Yoruba, Ashanti, Igbo, Lingala, French, Wolof, Swahili, Amharic, Somali, Tigrinya, Berber, Afrikaans, Hausa, Portuguese, Capeverdean Crioulos, Spanish, others |
| Religion |
| Related ethnic groups |
|
African American Africans, Sub-Saharan Africans, North African, White Africans of European ancestry |
African immigration to the United States refers to the group of recent immigrants to the United States who are nationals of Africa. The term African in the scope of this article refers to geographical or national origins rather than racial affiliation.
Since the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, an estimated total of 0.8 to 0.9 million Africans have immigrated to the United States, accounting for roughly 3.3% of total immigration to the United States during this period.[4]
African immigrants in the United States come from a variety of milieus and do not constitute a homogeneous group. They include people from different national, ethnic, racial, cultural and social backgrounds.[5]
As such, African immigrants are to be distinguished from Afro-American peoples of the Americas, the latter of whom are descendants of Black Africans that came to the Americas by means of the historic Atlantic slave trade.
In the 1870s the Naturalization Act was extended to allow "aliens, being free white persons and to aliens of African nativity and to persons of African descent" to acquire citizenship. Hence immigration from Africa was theoretically permitted while immigration from Asia was not.
Several laws enforcing national origins quotas on American immigration were enacted between 1921 and 1924 and were in effect until they were repealed in 1965. While these laws were aimed at restricting the immigration of Jews and Catholics from central and eastern Europe and immigration from Asia, they also impacted African immigrants. This legislation effectively excluded Africans from entering the country.
The Emergency Quota Act of 1921 restricted immigration from a given country to 3% of the number of people from that country living in the U.S. according to the census of 1910. The Immigration Act of 1924 (also known as the Johnson-Reed Act) reduced that to 2 %of the number of people from that country who were already living in the United States in 1890. Under this system, the quota for immigrants from Africa (excluding Egypt) totaled 1,100. (This number was increased to 1,400 under the Immigration act of 1952 or the McCarran-Walter Act.) [6] This is in contrast to a country like Germany whose limit was 51,227.[7]
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (also known as the Hart-Cellar Act) repealed the national quotas and subsequently there was a substantial increase in the number of immigrants from “developing” countries, particularly in Africa and Asia. This act also provided a separate category for refugees. The Immigration Act of 1965 has also provided greater opportunity for family re-unification.
The influx of African immigrants began in latter part of the 20th century and is often referred to as the “fourth great migration.” This trend began after decolonization, as many Africans came to the United States seeking an education, and has risen steadily over time. Originally, these immigrants came with the sole purpose of advancing themselves before returning to their respective countries. However, in recent years there has been an increase in the number of African immigrants interested in gaining permanent residence in the United States. This has led to a severe brain drain on the economies of African countries due to many highly skilled professionals leaving Africa to seek their economic fortunes in the United States and elsewhere.
| Ancestry | 1990 | 1990% of US population | 2000 | 2000% of US population | Percent change from 1990 to 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethiopian | negligible (no data) | negligible (no data) | 219.6% | ||
| Ghanaian | 14,900 | negligible (no data) | 49,944 | negligible (no data) | 235.2 |
| Nigerian | 15,300 | negligible (no data) | 65,481 | negligible (no data) | 168.8% |
| South African | 15,690 | negligible (no data) | 45,569 | negligible (no data) | 190.4% |
| Other | 136,910 | negligible (no data) | 292,088 | negligible (no data) | 113.3% |
| TOTAL | 230,000 | 0.1% | 940,000 | 0.2% | 166.9% |
One major factor that contributes to migration from Africa to the United States is inadequate planning of labor supply in certain African countries. This has led to an oversupply of specialized workers and a system that is incapable of supporting them.[9] Furthermore, education in African countries tends to be modeled after educational systems in developed nations and are not very accommodating of local realities. Subsequently, it has been relatively easy for African immigrants to leave and enter international labor markets. In addition, many Africans come to the United States for advanced training. However, this tends to lead a training that is too specialized to be adequately used in their respective home countries.[10] Furthermore, since promotions in Africa are often based on seniority, young professionals eager to jumpstart their careers feel forced to migrate.[10]
| Metropolitan Area | African Population | % of Black total | % of Total Metro Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC, MD-VA-WV | 80,281 | 6.1 | 1.6 |
| New York, NY | 73, 851 | 3.4 | 0.8 |
| Atlanta, GA | 34,302 | 2.9 | 0.8 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | 27,592 | 15.4 | 0.9 |
| Greater Los Angeles Area | 25,829 | 2.7 | 0.3 |
| Detroit, MI | 24,231 | 2.1 | 0.6 |
| Houston, TX | 22,683 | 3.1 | 0.5 |
| Chicago, IL | 19,438 | 2.4 | 0.7 |
| Dallas, TX | 19,134 | 3.6 | 0.5 |
| Boston, MA-NH | 17,344 | 9.8 | 0.7 |
It is estimated that the current population of African immigrants to the United States is about 881,300.[2] Countries with the most immigrants to the U.S. are Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Egypt, Somalia, and South Africa. Seventy five percent (75%) of the African immigrants to the USA come from 12 of the 55 countries, namely Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya, Liberia, Somalia, Morocco, Cape Verde, Sierra Leone and Sudan, which is based on the 2000 census data.[11]
Additionally, according to the U.S. Census, 55% of immigrants from Africa are male, while 45% are female. Age groups with the largest cohort of African-born immigrants are 25-34, 35-44, and 45-54 with 24.5%, 27.9%, and 15.0% respectively.[2]
Africans typically congregate in urban areas, moving to suburban areas over time. They are also less likely to live in segregated areas.[12] The goals of Africans vary tremendously. While some look to create new lives in the U.S., some plan on using the resources and skills gained to go back and help their countries of origin. Either way, African communities contribute millions to the economies of Africa through remittances.
Immigrants from Africa typically settle in heavily urban areas upon arrival into the U.S. Areas such as Washington, D.C., New York, Columbus, Ohio, Atlanta and Minneapolis have heavy concentrations of African immigrant populations. Often there are clusters of nationalities within these cities. The longer African immigrants live in the United States, the more likely they are to live in suburban areas.
African immigrants to the U.S. are among the most educated groups in the United States. Some 48.9 percent of all African immigrants hold a college diploma. This is more than double the rate of native-born white Americans, and nearly four times the rate of native-born African Americans.[13]
In 1997, 19.4 percent of all adult African immigrants in the United States held a graduate degree, compared to 8.1 percent of adult white Americans and 3.8 percent of adult black Americans in the United States, respectively. [14]
Of the African-born population in the United States age 25 and older, 87.9% reported having a high school degree or higher,[15] compared with 78.8% of Asian-born immigrants and 76.8% of European-born immigrants, respectively.[16]
Africans from Nigeria (89.1 percent), Ghana (85.9 percent), Botswana (84.7 percent), and Malawi (83 percent) were the most likely to report having a high school degree or higher. Those born in Cape Verde (44.8 percent) and Mauritania (60.8 percent) were the least likely to report having completed a high school education.[17]
American immigrants from predominantly black nations in Africa and South America are generally healthier than black immigrants from predominantly white nations in Europe. A study conducted by Jen’nan Ghazal Read, a sociology professor at the UC Irvine and Michael O. Emerson, a sociology professor at Rice University, closely studied the health of more than 2,900 black immigrants from top regions of emigration: the West Indies, Africa, South America and Europe. Blacks born in Africa and South America have been shown to be healthier than American born Blacks.[18][19]
The study was published in the September issue of Social Forces and is the first to look at the health of black immigrants by their region of origin.[20]
African immigrants tend to retain their culture once in the United States. Instead of abandoning their various traditions, they find ways to reproduce and reinvent themselves.[21] Because of the extremely diverse nature of African ethnic groups, there is no single African immigrant identity. However, cultural bonds are cultivated through shared ethnic or national affiliations. Some organizations like the Ghanaian group Fantse-Kuo and the Sudanese Association organize by country, region, or ethnic group. Other not for profits like the Malawi Washington Association [3] organize by national identity, and are inclusive of all Malawians. Other groups present traditional culture from a pan-African perspective. Using traditional skills and knowledge, African-born entrepreneurs develop services for immigrants and the community at large. In the Washington area, events such as the annual Ethiopian soccer tournament, institutions such as the AME Church African Liberation Ministry, and "friends" and "sister cities" organizations bring together different communities. The extent to which African immigrants engage in these activities naturally varies according to the population.
The religious traditions of African immigrants tend to be pluralistic. In other words, they are seen not only as religious institutions, but in many cases also as civic centers. These organizations are also central to persevering ethnic identity among these communities.[22] In addition, African immigrant religious communities are also central networks and provide services such as counseling, shelter, employment, financial assistance, health services, real estate tips, etc.
African immigrants practice a diverse array of religions, including Christianity, Islam, and various traditional African religions. However, the largest African immigrant religious group in the United States is made up of Pentecostal/Charismatic Christians. This form of Christianity is a “primarily evangelical, born-again pentecostal sect that emphasizes holiness, fervent prayer, charismatic revival, proximate salvation, speaking in tongues, baptism of the Holy Spirit, faith healing, visions, and divine revelations." [22]
The most popular church denominations that Africans join include: Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, Celestial Church of Christ, Cherubim and Seraphim, Christ Apostolic Church, The Church of Pentecost, Deeper Life Bible Church, Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Musama Disco, The Presbyterian Church of Ghana, and the Redeemed Christian Church of God.[22]
Africans have also started to create their own congregations. The new trend in African communities includes creating separate churches where Africans can worship as an African congregation. One example is the Bethel Church in Silver Spring, MD that has a Pan-African congregation. It also includes service in English and French. Many African churches are Pan African, but some consist only of nationals from the country of origin. This allows for worship in the languages of the congregation. Ethiopians and Eritreans in particular have their own churches wherever there is a significant Ethiopian/Eritrean population. Their churches are mainly Ethiopian or Eritrean Orthodox and Catholic churches.
The Muslim tradition of African immigrants is made up of diverse groups and includes Sufis, Mourides from Senegal, as well as mainstream orders and schools from Eastern and Northern Africa. These Muslims tend to interact in both Arabic and their own indigenous languages.[22]
First and second generation African immigrants can be seen in a wide variety of areas, from academia to athletics to acting. U.S. President Barack Obama's father Barack Obama, Sr. is a native of Kenya. A few notable African academics in the U.S. include John Ogbu, and Kwame Anthony Appiah. In sports, Hakeem Olajuwon, Oguchi Onyewu, Freddy Adu, and Joseph Addai are prominent, and in entertainment, actor Gbenga Akinnagbe, singer Akon, and rappers Chamillionaire and Wale are also well-known.
Many local cable channels are now purchasing programming channels operated by the various African communities. For example, Channel Africa is now available in some TV networks in the US.
News services such as the Nigerian Television Authority, South African Broadcasting Channel and Ethiopian Television Programming are also available in some areas.
Nigerian Nollywood films and Ghanaian films can now be rented or purchased from Nigerian and Ghanaian stores.
Immigrants from Africa have also opened up a number of restaurants in urban areas. The DC Metro area hosts many eateries belonging to the Ethiopian, Kenyan, South African and West African communities.
The following is a list of notable immigrants to the United States, or children born in the United States to at least one parents who immigrated from Africa.
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