Five Hundred years ago, a new form of slavery, transformed Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Multi-Millions of African slaves in number. were transported to America on slave ships, to develop this nation at minimum cost. For the majority of their contributions, African Americans were not accredited, even though they excelled while being exploited in their endeavors. For the first time, people saw other human beings as commodities-things to be bought, sold and exploited to make enormous profits. This system changed the world.

The United States was created in this context, forged by slavery as well as a radical new concept, freedom.

This is a shared story, a shared past, told through the lives of African Americans who helped form the nation.(1400-1877) One cannot truly understand America without understanding the Historical experience of black people in this nation. Simply put, to get to the heart of the country, one must examine it's racial soul. (Eric Holden)

History despite it's wrenching pain cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.