This article has been updated with 2025 data. Read the latest version: From South Fulton to Shreveport: The Blackest Cities in America This Year.
A recent report by the esteemed Brookings Institution revealed that the internal migration patterns of African Americans in the United States have contributed to “Black-majority cities.”
These urban areas, where African Americans constitute a significant portion of the population, have become magnets for individuals seeking more substantial opportunities and sustainable living.
According to Insider Monkey, despite a mere 1.5% growth in their overall share since 1970, the African American community’s strategic relocation has paved the way for their rising influence in critical regions nationwide.
Experts project that the United States will transform into a minority-white country by 2045, as racial minorities, including African Americans, Hispanics and Asians, are set to become the primary drivers of the country’s economy.
Census experts attribute this transformation to two reasons: the combined racial minority population is projected to grow by a staggering 74% between 2018 and 2060, while the aging white population is expected to experience a decline during the same period.
Jackson, Mississippi, widely regarded as the “Blackest city” in America, is at the forefront of this demographic shift.
With African Americans constituting over 80% of the city’s population, Jackson is a testament to the vitality and prominence of African American culture and influence.
Looking at the state level, Texas boasts the highest African American population, with 3.55 million individuals, followed closely by Georgia and Florida.
These three states rank as the top contenders with the highest concentrations of African Americans nationwide.
The following ten urban areas have the highest percentage of African American residents:
- Miami Gardens, Florida Total Population: 110,881 African Americans: 68,121 Percentage: 61.44%
- Memphis, Tennessee Total Population: 628,118 African Americans: 398,824 Percentage: 63.50%
- Montgomery, Alabama Total Population: 198,659 African Americans: 126,268 Percentage: 63.56%
- Southfield, Michigan Total Population: 75,901 African Americans: 48,391 Percentage: 63.76%
- Birmingham, Alabama Total Population: 196,410 African Americans: 139,691 Percentage: 71.12%
- Albany, Georgia Total Population: 67,146 African Americans: 49,281 Percentage: 73.39%
- Detroit, Michigan Total Population: 632,589 African Americans: 484,779 Percentage: 76.63%
- Lauderhill, Florida Total Population: 73,461 African Americans: 58,704 Percentage: 79.91%
- East Orange, New Jersey Total Population: 68,893 African Americans: 55,087 Percentage: 79.96%
- Jackson, Mississippi Total Population: 149,813 African Americans: 122,612 Percentage: 81.84%
Baltimore, Maryland; Shreveport, Louisiana; New Orleans; Mount Vernon, New York, Macon, Georgia; Augusta, Georgia; Mobile, Alabama; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Portsmouth, Virginia; Savannah, Georgia; Trenton, New Jersey; Cleveland, Ohio; Hampton, Virginia; and Newark, New Jersey rounded out the top 25 cities with the highest African American population.
“Looking at the state level, Texas boasts the highest African American population, with 3.55 million individuals, followed closely by Georgia and Florida.
These three states rank as the top contenders with the highest concentrations of African Americans nationwide.”
Your analysis isn’t making sense here. Sheer volume numbers aren’t the same as “concentration”, which is better measured per capita or as a percentage.
Raw population numbers vs per capita tend to confuse the math challenged. Sadly too many use them interchangeably, depending on the message they are trying to get across, whether incorrectly or not.
When you are quoting a report (Brookings) you should link or include a footnote directly to the report you’re citing in your article.
The government been lying about these stats for decades…who is really the minority in this so called “America”
I’d love to see this report go a little further and explain just why the differences are the way they are. Perhaps if we delve into the backgrounds and work ethics of these individuals, I believe we would find a stark contrast between the two.
Why is it that such “learned” scholars don’t seem to have a clue when it come to citing references? It’s not a problem if it is your data as long as you publish the associated research rather than simply making up a statistic or fact on the fly! Heck, there is nothing wrong with stating your opinion as long as you inform the reader it is, in fact, your opinion. This seems to have been lost on news organizations for the last 40 years or so. The information coming out of a “reporter’s” mouth is more likely to be an opinion than a verifiable fact. And this doesn’t even touch on the leading adverbs they use which are intended to sway public opinion.
For example, reporter A states: “Republicans have falsely claimed there was voter irregularity in the election.” Sadly, all too many people do not even detect the bias in that sentence as well as the underlying message. Why include the word “falsely” if not to influence the reader rather than inform? This is now the norm. But that same reporter will never report the following unbiased facts:
“Former Genesee County Elections Supervisor Kathy Funk is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday, April 24, after pleading no contest to a charge of misconduct in office in January as part of a plea agreement with the Michigan Attorney General’s Office.
As part of the plea deal, Funk will not receive jail or prison time when she is sentenced by Circuit Judge Mark Latchana and a felony charge of ballot tampering against her will be dismissed.
Both the misconduct and ballot tampering charges are felonies and were tied to Funk’s alleged tampering with a ballot canister while serving as Flint Township clerk in 2020.”
This is but one of many examples of actual voter irregularities but people we call “reporters” still insist on using words like “falsely”. Why is that?
Facts. If you going too do a city most population by women men Ethnic groups,whatever,you go by the sheer numbers. The cities on the list are less then 200,000
People. The big impact is the cities that are in the millions.
This also down play are income buisnesses employment education and cultural impact on the important Big cities.
This a problem when they do the top 10 states with largest black population Texas Florida Gerogia
New York North Carolina and Cali are the top 6 which African American income is $50k +no different than others groups some are higher but you have some lower, other groups have these states representing in the top 10 list quite strange.
“ With African Americans constituting over 80% of the city’s population, Jackson is a testament to the vitality and prominence of African American culture and influence”. Yeppers, African American culture and influence are the very reason Jackson is what it is today.
Yep, sounds like a great place to live.
Analysis: For second straight year, Jackson’s homicide rate ranks highest in U.S. among major cities
I read that and said to myself no kidding!! Jackson Mississippi, sadly is the epitome of a defecation hole, if ever there was one.
Yep. A shithole.
There is only one race—the human race. Cultures, religions, and geographic isolation produce interbreeding that passes on certain physical traits. The people are all the same race. If a male and female can copulate and produce offspring they are of the same race.
We all different not the same you have big small skinny fat light dark medium,white black latino
And Asian,male female,poor rich and middle,all have different interests all created there testimony,culture and influences .
More good then bad we should hope and pray it stay like this if life can’t get better.We all be doomed. Some people would say it don’t matter we all the same when it’s convenient for them that being fake and ignorant.
We are not the same as far as culture gender history or shapes.
God made us all different with different ideas and lifestyle.
We suppose to have understanding and respect for
Each other no matter what.
The point is some use that tool we all the same crap for there convenience or too discredit individuals like there better or worse not a good look Respect.
We have enough to help redistribute wealth in America by investing at home and abroad
I want to know what is driving this increase in African-Americans, what the role of Hispanic-Americans is since they had become the largest minority for a while, is this just in the big cities, and are African-Americans only occupying the poorest sections of these big cities.
Pink Floyd made the point that education, teaching people only what you want them to know, is a form of mind control (and manipulation).
Not having read the underlying report, the failings may be in the column written by an African-American writer and not in the report.
This is a ridiculous debate . I read every comment here and it seems to be a tipping point whenever a discussion about Black American growth is mentioned. This just about numbers. kudos to those people who changing the demographics about time. It sounds to me some of you feel a little threatened by the data.
I was surprised to see that Detroit made the list, but looking at the stats, it makes sense. I wonder what contributed to the high percentage of African Americans in these cities?
Great article thanks for sharing this article with us
Thanks for the great information you have shared.
This is very helpful and helps me a lot. Thank you so much for sharing this information.
This is such an eye-opening report! It’s fascinating to see the demographic shifts and cultural landscapes of these cities. I appreciate how the article highlights not just statistics but also the vibrant communities and histories behind these numbers. It makes me want to learn more about the unique contributions and challenges each city faces. Thank you for sharing this important information!
This report highlights some important statistics about the demographics of our cities. It’s fascinating to see how these communities thrive despite the challenges they face. I hope this sparks more conversations about equality and opportunities for all residents.
This report sheds light on the demographic shifts happening across the U.S. It’s interesting to see how the historical context of these cities plays a role in their cultural identity today. I hope this brings more attention to the unique challenges and opportunities these communities face!
This report sheds light on an important aspect of America’s demographics and culture. It’s fascinating to see how these cities not only reflect the rich history of the Black community but also highlight the diverse contributions they make to our society. I’m curious to see how these communities continue to evolve in the coming years!