Most slaves lived desperately hard lives, working from sunup to sundown, with few comforts. Yet despite their surroundings, they made homes of what they had. Holding fiercely to their African heritage while adapting to the customs of their strange new land, these first African-Americans handed down a legacy of perseverance and strength. The everyday life of plantation slaves is detailed in text and haunting photographs of recently excavated plantation sites, giving immediacy to the lives of enslaved Africans while paying tribute to the daily courage of a people who endured against all odds.

""Bial offers glimpses of American slavery in this striking photoessay. This volume features clear, color photographs of sites and artifacts, as well as a few early photos of people living under slavery . . . makes slavery in America more concrete than many other books on the subject."" Booklist, ALA

""An outstanding addition to any collection."" School Library Journal