The use of the term "African American" became a popular "self" description, popularized in 70's and considered by many of the intellectual and elite American Descendants Of African slaves a term of pride. Now, once considered the key phrase for documenting the achievements and culture of Black Americans. Today it has opened the Pandora's Box on race issues and depending on the outcome of a federal lawsuit, African American could very well change the criteria for who is both African and uniquely American.

Since 1970, what critics have described as ignorance, and supporters consider tradition the accepted definition of an African American was exclusive only to citizens of the United States who had origins among the black populations of Africa and the direct descendants of captive Africans who survived the slavery era within the boundaries of the present United States.