By  ASHAR JAWAD/Insider Monkey

In this article, we look at the 25 cities with the highest percentage of African American population. You can skip our detailed analysis and head directly to the 10 Cities With Highest Percentage of African American Population.

A report in the Brookings Institution in 2019 highlighted that although the share of African Americans in the population has only grown 1.5% since 1970, internal migration of the community has led to the rise of what is known as ‘black-majority cities’. More African Americans are moving to cities that have a black majority in their quest for opportunity and sustainability.

The Census Bureau has projected the United States to become a minority white country by 2045, with current racial minorities, which include African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians, becoming the primary drivers of the nation’s economy. This shift in population is expected for two reasons. First, the number of combined racial minorities is expected to grow by 74% between 2018 and 2060, and secondly, the ageing white population will likely see a decline over the same period.

Jackson, Mississippi has the highest percentage of African Americans among cities in the United States, accounting for more than 80% of the city’s population. It is often referred to as the blackest city in America. As far as states are concerned, in terms of numbers, Texas has the highest population of African Americans with 3.55 million people, followed by Georgia at second, and Florida being third. These are the top three black states in the country.

The African American community has produced some of the most prominent people in the United States like Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, and Oprah Winfrey, among others. They are known world over due to their accomplishments. Tiger Woods is an American professional golfer who is widely regarded as one of the world’s famous athletes for his PGA Tour wins. Woods has received endorsement from NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) for a number of years, starting first in 1996. At one point, it seemed as if NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) and Tiger Woods were synonymous due to the long partnership they have had over the years.

Michael Jordan is one of the richest African Americans, having a net worth of $2 billion. He is regarded as the greatest NBA player of all time. Jordan now owns shares in NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE)’s Jordan brand, and receives a share of income from every NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) Jordan sold. You can read more on this in our article, Michael Jordan, 10 Richest Black Americans and Their Stock Picks. TV talk show host, Oprah Winfrey, is one of the richest self-made women in the US. Born in Kosciusko, northeast of Jackson, she boasts a net worth of $2.5 billion, and has investments in WW International, Inc. (NASDAQ:WW) and Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD).

According to the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) of the U.S. Senate, there are more than 3 million businesses owned by African Americans, which contribute about $200 billion to the national economy and provide employment to over 1 million Americans. Between 2012 and 2017, businesses owned by African Americans grew at a faster rate than those that were white-owned. The JEC declared that the future and prosperity of the economy is linked to fighting racism and ensuring equal opportunity for all racial groups in the U.S.

Worldwide Technology Company is the biggest company in the US owned by an African American. The technology solutions provider was estimated to have generated over $11 billion in revenue in 2021. It provides supply chain solutions to nearly half of the Fortune 500 companies. Worldwide Technology Company is followed by ActOne Group on the second spot. Founded in 1964 in Torrance, California, the employment agency provides recruitment and procurement solutions to a wide range of industries. It generated $2.8 billion in revenue in 2021. Other major companies owned by the African American Community can be found in Top 20 Biggest Black Owned Companies in the US.

With that out of the way, let’s head over to our list of cities with highest percentage of African American population.

Methodology

We have ranked the cities with the highest percentage of African Americans using population and demographics data released by The U.S. Census Bureau in 2021. Share of residents belonging to the African American racial group in each city was calculated, with the results then sorted in ascending order (least to highest) of percentages. Only cities have been included in these rankings. Census Designated Places (CDPs) are not considered.

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