Elijah McCoy overcame many obstacles to become a renowned inventor who paved the way for others.

This image group features portraits of Frederick Douglass, Phillis Wheatley and Olaudah Equiano, who all learned to read and write while they were enslaved. Each used their gifts to help end slavery.

These images show enslaved people singing as part of their work and recreational lives.

These images show how different people reacted to the end of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery.

These images show some of the many African Americans who fought or worked for the Union Army in the Civil War.

These images show the negative effects that slavery had on Africa and African people.

Thomas was born into slavery and lived a harsh life, but he was finally able to escape and reunite with his family.

William Wells Brown was born into slavery and later escaped to become one of the foremost supporters of abolition.

Mary loves Sunday mornings and the spirituals that give her and Mama hope.

Patty, a young enslaved girl, shares some insight about life on a South Carolina plantation.