At the expense of basic human rights, dignity, and decency, Africans were torn from their native countries and first brought to the United State as slaves. Yet even in the face of the indefensible injustices and hardship they have endured since then, African Americans have been bolstered by the sacrifices, leadership, and determination of courageous individuals. This inspiring volume chronicles the history of African Americansthe triumphs and tragediesfrom origins on the African continent to the end of the Harlem Renaissance.