The first African men, women, and children in colonial America did not arrive with dreams of freedom or hopes of a new, better life. They arrived after a torturous 90-day journey called the Middle Passage. And they arrived as slaves. Since that time, African-Americans have suffered, triumphed, despaired, and dreamed. Through U.S. history, nowhere are the hopes and fears of the black experience expressed more convincingly than on the faces of black youth. Including excerpts from memoirs and diaries, this scrapbook shows the beauty and diversity of black culture through time-from the penniless to the wealthy, and from those time has forgotten to those whose names will live forever in the pages of history. The author of histories, novels, and self-help books, Tonya Bolden has received multiple awards, including Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association. A powerful reading from acclaimed Recorded Books narrators channels the full breadth and scope of Bolden's remarkable work. 'This impressively researched, imaginatively presented history evokes deep appreciation for the struggles, perseverance, and triumphs of young black Americans.' -Publishers Weekly