How Black American Identity Was Forged The term Afro- diasporic hybrid describes the unique cultural and social identity that developed among African Americans in North America with African slave heritage. It recognizes that the people who became Black Americans did not originate from a single African tribe or culture and cross tribal blending coupled with admixture from various European groups created a different cultural identity. Enslaved Africans came from many different regions and ethnic groups across West Africa, the Caribbean, Brazil and South America. Through the forced migration of the Transatlantic Slave Trade , these diverse peoples were brought together in ways that had never existed before. Thus distinction is necessary in addressing both kinship and differences between Black born in America with African slave ancestors for social and political reasons. Other than shared ancestral roots these groups are not related, From Tribal Distinction to Shared Identity Be...