This work provides a broad analysis of sociological and historical literature on African American families. Beginning with an analysis of Black families under slavery, we trace the current diversity of African American family structures through history, elaborating on the structural oppressions that shape these experiences. The contemporary experiences of Black families are intimately connected with the historical, economic, and social conditions encountered by generations past. This work is not intended to be a definitive statement regarding the experiences of largely diverse groups of families, but instead a critical look at the structural forces that affect the lives of Black families and the systematic racism that informs public discourse about Black families and scholarship.