# African Americans in Virginia

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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

* William T. Amiger (1870–1929), college president, educator, Baptist minister
* Chris Brown (born 1989), singer
* Missy Elliott (born 1971), rapper
* Booker T. Washington (1856–1915), educator, author, orator and adviser
* Pharrell Williams (born 1973), musician, singer
* Trey Songz (born 1984, né Tremaine Aldon Neverson), singer
* Wanda Sykes (born 1964), comedian and actress
* Plaxico Burress (born 1977), football player