African Americans in Virginia

African Americans are the largest racial minority in Virginia. According to the 2010 Census, more than 1.5 million, or one in five Virginians is "Black or African American". African Americans were enslaved in the state. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, African Americans were 18.6% of the state's population.

History


The first twenty African slaves from Angola landed in Virginia in 1619 on a Portuguese slave ship. Lynchings, racial segregation and white supremacy were prevalent in Virginia. The first African slaves arrived in the British colony Jamestown, Virginia and were then bought by English colonists.

Great Dismal Swamp maroons fled to swamps in Virginia to escape slavery.

Notable People

 * Chris Brown
 * Trey Songz
 * Missy Elliott
 * Booker T. Washington
 * Pharrell Williams
 * Wanda Sykes
 * Plaxico Burress