African American Diaspora

African American Diaspora

The African diaspora refers to the communities throughout the world that are descended from the historic movement of peoples from Africa — predominantly to the Americas, Europe and the Middle East, among other areas around the globe. The term has been historically applied in particular to the descendants of the West and Central Africans who were enslaved and shipped to the Americas by way of the Atlantic slave trade, with the largest population in the USA (see African-American)., among others.

With regard to all historic migrations (forced and voluntary), the African Union defined the African diaspora as

" of people of African origin living outside the continent, irrespective of their citizenship and nationality and who are willing to contribute to the development of the continent and the building of the African Union." Its constitutive act declares that it shall "invite and encourage the full participation of the African diaspora as an important part of our continent, in the building of the African Union."

Read more about African American Diaspora:  Definitions, Estimated Population and Distribution, Largest 15 African Diaspora Populations, The Americas, Europe, Indian and Pacific Oceans

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