African American Community

Introduction

This page provides the context and background of the different African American communities in the U.S. and how they were affected by the Great Depression. Although the Great Depression affected virtually every group of Americans, African Americans were hit the hardest. By 1932, approximately half of African Americans were out of work. The economic situation of the Black American population in the United States deteriorated during the Great Depression, which lasted from 1929 to 1939. Many historians end the Great Depression with the U.S. entry into the second world war. They were the first to lose their jobs, and they experienced unemployment rates that were two to three times higher than those of white people. So, how did the Great Depression affect the experience of the African American community?

Here you can find a variety of resources to answer this question!