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Actually, the problems began thousands of years ago, IMHO. Africa, you see, was entirely isolated until recent history. It wasn't until the 19th century that the continent was really explored. With the exception of the Egyptians and Carthaginians, much of the sub-Saharan cultures there never had much of an opportunity to intermingle with other cultures. Contrast this with Western Civilization. Greeks, Romans, Phonecians, Egyptians, Mesophotanians, Persians, et al learned from each other. But, bounded by impassible jungle and desert, not so with Africa--though many of early history advances were made by Africans (they are believed to be the first to learn to smelt iron for example).
Geography dealt Africa a hardship, IMHO...on another matter, if the "Out of Africa" theory of the evolution of mankind is correct, and I believe it is, why can't the African-American label fit all of us?