A documentary about the discovery of New York's colonial-era African burial ground and the historical contributions of those original Africans and their descendants to the survival and development of New York and the nation. The focus on the period from 1626 to the New York City draft riots of 1863 includes an in-depth look at the signifigance of northern slavery and the amazing progression of heroic Africans who rose from bondage to change the course of the country from its earliest colonial days.