Content Warning: This section discusses racism, enslavement, and anti-gay bias and discrimination.

The various dynamics and relationships between family members of African American families in the South during the 20th century were highly complex and were influenced by a large number of factors. Racial discrimination, the legacy of enslavement, socioeconomic challenges, and cultural traditions all influenced how members within African American families interacted with each other on a daily basis. These obstacles tested relationships and caused a great amount of tension within society as a whole. However, African American families in the South continued to persevere, displaying their resilience, strength, and deep sense of community.

The South’s legacy of enslavement deeply impacted the structure of African American families. Many families were torn apart and forcibly separated as various members were enslaved and sold to different plantations. As a result, many African American families had difficulty maintaining stable and conventional family structures; this disruption and forceful separation of family members has had long-term effects on the African American community, and the results of this generational trauma are still deeply felt today.

During the early 20th century, the highly discriminatory Jim Crow laws—as well as many other forms of institutional and systemic racism—limited the resources and opportunities for African Americans throughout the South.