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African Americans in Mississippi facts for kids

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African Americans in Mississippi
Total population
1,149,341 (2017)
Regions with significant populations
Jackson metropolitan area, Mississippi Delta, rural majority Black counties throughout the state
Languages
Southern American English, African-American Vernacular English
Religion
Historically Black Protestant
Related ethnic groups
Black Southerners


African Americans in Mississippi are people living in Mississippi who have African American family roots. They are also called Black Mississippians. As of 2019, about 37.8% of Mississippi's population was African American. This is the highest percentage in the entire United States.

Many African Americans were first brought to Mississippi long ago. They were forced to come as enslaved people to work on cotton farms.

History

Early Beginnings

In 1718, French leaders made rules to bring enslaved Africans to the Biloxi area. By 1719, the first enslaved Africans arrived. Many of these early enslaved people in Mississippi came from the Caribbean.

Population Changes

For a long time, African Americans made up most of the people in Mississippi. This was true even before the American Civil War and up until the 1930s. Today, about 37% of the state's population is African American.

Some enslaved people had mixed family backgrounds. They might have had European or Native American ancestors.

During the early 1900s, almost 400,000 African Americans left Mississippi. This big move is known as the Great Migration. They moved to cities in the North, Midwest, and West. They were looking for better jobs and more opportunities. After this, African Americans became a smaller part of Mississippi's population.

Famous Mississippians

Many famous African Americans come from Mississippi. They have made important contributions in many fields.

See Also

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