The American Negro Academy (ANA) was the first organization in the United States dedicated to promoting scholarship, research, and the arts within the African American community. Founded in 1897 by Alexander Crummell, a prominent African American intellectual, the ANA aimed to provide a platform for Black scholars and artists to showcase their talents and contributions.

The organization sought to challenge the prevailing racist views of African Americans prevalent during the late 19th and early 20th centuries by highlighting the intellectual and cultural achievements of Black individuals. The ANA also advocated for the inclusion of African American history and literature in educational curricula and promoted the idea of racial uplift through education and cultural advancement.

Some of the notable members of the American Negro Academy included W.E.B. Du Bois, William Sanders Scarborough, Anna Julia Cooper, and Paul Laurence Dunbar. The organization published scholarly journals, organized lectures and conferences, and provided a forum for Black intellectuals to exchange ideas and collaborate on research projects.

While the American Negro Academy was short-lived and disbanded in 1924, its legacy lives on as a pioneering institution in the fight for racial equality and the recognition of African American contributions to academia and the arts.