African-Americans predominantly live in which areas?

• A. Rural farming communities
• B. Suburban shopping centers
• C. Urban areas, particularly in the South and northern U.S. cities
• D. Coastal resort towns

Answer: (C)

Where African-Americans live reflects long-running patterns of migration and urban growth in the United States. Enslaved people were concentrated in rural Southern plantations, but during the Great Migration (roughly the early 20th century through mid-century) many moved to cities in the North and Midwest seeking industrial jobs and relief from discriminatory laws. This created large, enduring Black communities in northern cities like New York, Chicago, Detroit, and Philadelphia, while substantial populations also remained in Southern urban centers such as Atlanta. While there are Black residents in rural areas and in suburbs, the historical and ongoing pattern is a concentration in urban areas, especially in the South and in northern U.S. cities.