ABSTRACT
The designation “African American” is used in this book as a generic term that defines and includes several ethnic groups of people who have derived their genealogical essence from the African continent and who have come to the United States through circumstances of chance or choice (Banks, 1981; Levy & Renaldo, 1975; Sowell, 1978). Therefore, reference to these groups implies that they came from Africa directly, or indirectly by way of such areas as the Caribbean, Latin America, or wherever else people of African descent have lived over time (Feris, 1913; Herskovits, 1958; Keto, 1990; Nobles, 1986; Ravitch, 1990 & 1990; Richards, 1991; Sudarkasa, 1981; Van Sertima, 1976).
