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When Africans were brought to American shores in chains, they brought pieces of Africa with them and used their traditions, music and culture to help them survive.

A letter written by a free African-American Union soldier argues for equal pay for African-American soldiers.

Frederick Douglass argues for African-American participation in the Union army.

The "Cotton is King" speech given by Senator James Henry Hammond before the U. S. Senate on March 4, 1858.

A speech given by Senator John C. Calhoun in which he argues in favor of slavery, saying that it benefits enslaved people, enslavers and the United States as a whole.

A letter written by John Quincy Adams to the 12th Congressional District regarding the use of the "Gag Rule" to prevent him from reading petitions by enslaved people on the floor of the House of Representatives. Adams argues that the Gag Rule is a violation of petitioners' rights, and to ignore this violation would endanger the rights of all Americans.

A. J. McElveen writes to the Charleston, South Carolina, enslaver Z. B. Oakes, about an enslaved man named Isaac. McElveen describes Isaac as a genius, painter, cook, carriage driver, violinist, etc.

This is the text of New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s speech given when the final Confederate monument in the city was taken down.