Following the Soweto uprising in 1976 , there was a significant increase in South African immigration to the United States . Many of the immigrants were South African Jews , who formed a community in the northern suburbs of Chicago . Although emigration policies during apartheid made immigration difficult , there were a small number of black students and political refugees who emigrated to the US . During the 1980s and 1990s , many South Africans entered the US for political reasons , to be with family members , or to access professional opportunities not available in their home country
Soweto uprising
Soweto uprising
South African Americans