African Americans have dealt with racial issues dating back to 1619 when a Dutch ship brought twenty African slaves to Jamestown, Virginia. Continuing throughout the 1600's the European settlers in North America used African American slaves as a cheaper labor source as opposed to indentured servants.
Courtesy of Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
"The only use of an obstacle is to be overcome. All that an obstacle does with brave men is, not to frighten them, but to challenge them. " - President Woodrow Wilson