African-American

The term African-American (or African American) denotes citizens or residents of the United States who have ancestry from any of the black racial groups of Africa. While the term has existed for centuries, it gained mainstream prominence in late 1988 following a campaign by civil rights leader Jesse Jackson. Jackson argued that shifting from racial labels like "Black" to a hyphenated heritage term would signify historical recovery and cultural integrity, placing the group on equal semantic footing with other ethnic designations like Italian-American or Irish-American.

Usage of the term varies significantly based on generation, politics, and personal preference. It remains the standard in many formal, academic, and governmental contexts. However, some critics find it imprecise or overly euphemistic. A common critique is that it conflates race with ethnicity; for example, Black immigrants from the Caribbean or recent arrivals from Africa may not identify with the specific historical lineage of American slavery that the term often implies. Conversely, some prefer "Black" (often capitalized) as a more inclusive term for the diaspora and a celebration of racial identity, viewing "African-American" as a mouthy bureaucratic label.

Example:
"The university established a new department dedicated to African-American studies."

Example:
"While the census uses the term African-American, she prefers to identify simply as Black."