In the 1940's, when martial arts was introduced to America from China, Japan and Korea, it  was not acknowledged by European America in their movie theaters, universities, nor their schools, until it became popular in the African-American neighborhoods, theaters, community centers.   Martial Arts organizations started flourishing in America around the 1960's, when Kung Fu movies, Bruce Lee  films, and Sonny Chiba films, Samurai movies,  were introduced in the African-American neighborhoods.  The only  art form of self defense that existed and was accepted in the United States, was Judo in the Olympics, and in the U.S. Military.

The photos below will give you an idea of the presence of martial arts in the African-American neighborhoods.

The presence and popularity of martial arts became  very visible in the 1960's through the 1970's in the African -American communities.