How did slavery impact African evolution?

Question

I heard that African Americans on average are taller than white Americans because they selected taller slaves to breed. Is this true?

Why do African Americans look so different from Africans?

To me, they look thicker with wider noses, and bigger lips, Why is this?

Why are so many black people good at sports? Is this simply cultural or do they have an evolutionary advantage?

Answer 1

Slaves were bred like animals for work, their strength.

Different from Africans due to mixing with other races, white and others

Answer 2

You're telling me you've never seen short black people?  Are you serious?  There are a lot of small black people.

But, yes, breeding and inter-racial coupling has changed our look as well.  

Plus, American Blacks eat better and have much better medical care than Africans.  Malnutrition and improper care can really take a toll on your body.

But people who call themselves "German" or "Irish" look different than true Germans or Irish as well.  Americans are really their own nationality.

Answer 3

The average height and weight of black and white Americans is the same, I looked it up a few months ago on the official statistics. It's true the 'perfect slave' was a big, strong, young man though.

No, their better sporting ability isn't cultural. West Africans have slighter denser muscle fibers and it gives them explosive bursts of energy, for events like the 100m you won't see many white guys who'll match them.

Racial differences in facial features are mostly due to random genetic drift, but the wider noses allow air to get into the lungs faster, tropical air doesn't need warming up like cold European air (why Europeans have long thin noses). Also, Africans don't have to worry about frost bite, so fuller lips aren't selected against there.

Answer 4

The differences you mentioned are not due to the artificial selection that occured with slavery. The only feasable difference I've heard that may have come from slavery is high blood pressure prevlent among African Americans today. It was mainly on the ships over here that selection occured as it was a very harsh journey without much hydration. The Africans whose bodies processed salt more slowly had a better chance of staying hydrated and many whose bodies were not as efficient died off. Now today, you see high rates of high blood pressure among African Americans since there is a tendency for their genes to still be very efficient at processing salt when it is so freely available. This is the only documented difference I know of.

Answer 5

No African American and white peoples heights are the same on average

African Americans originate from west & central Africa and are a mix of those different ethnic groups. Also 60% of African Americans also have either European or Native American or even both in their blood. An African American could be made up of Nigerian, Ghanaian, Congolese, Native American & English ancestry making them look like none of their ancestral lands. But overall African Americans do look more similar to Africans than any other peoples.

Also Africans are more diverse than African Americans meaning you cant say 'look African'.

As African American have a percentage originating from west Africa they have kepts those traits from that region. West Africa is known for its low flat lands with high levels of oxygen warm climates allowing the people to adapt to having quicker oxyginated blood alowing them to adapt body movements much quicker ie jump run and easily muscular, reason why many African American s dominate in sports such as basketball sprinting football etc