African Diaspora in the USA: History and Modernity

Abstract

In the context of the intensification of migration processes, the study of diasporas is becoming more relevant. Historically, Africa has been assigned the status of one of the main providers of human resources. As a result of forced and voluntary migrations of Africans, a global community has been formed. It is called the African diaspora. The geography of African migrations is vast. However, in some countries, African presence and influence on the cultural landscape are more prominent. The United States has become one of the largest recipients of migrants from countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The article is devoted to the history of the formation and specifics of the development of African communities in the United States. The author focuses on the meaning and the application of the term “African diaspora.” The sociocultural experience of migrants is not uniform, which necessitated the distinguishing and examination of specific groups within the global African diaspora. The main emphasis is placed on the study of such concepts as “Old African diaspora” and “New African diaspora” in relation to the problem of identity. After analyzing several different definitions, the author comes to the conclusion that the concept of the “African diaspora” is fluid (constantly in progress) and inextricably linked with cultural identity, its preservation, and transformation.