This is a nice question. You always want to place yourself in terms of location and time when answering a history question. This is in the U.S. right after the Civil War. Reconstruction was characterized by a vast array of new opportunities for African Americans. Recently freed slaves established themselves as wage workers, often using many of the skills they used while enslaved. Many AA decided to migrate. That established communities further north and westward, as AA began to move out of the south. A nice example to look at is the Freedman's Bureau. They recorded information and provided resources to recently freed enslaved people. For instance, AA set up their own schools, banks, churches, etc. My current school, Meharry Medical College was established during this time. In short, Reconstruction was golden period for AA communities despite continued racism and redlining.
