1760s: Thousands of enslaved Africans arrive at every port in the American colonies.

1970s: African Americans explore their African heritage

Today: The term "African American" becomes the most popular term for Americans of African descent Henry Louis Gates Jr makes a series of public television programs about African cultures.

1760s: Most white people cannot read. Slaves are legally prohibited from learning to read and write.

1970s: In the first full decade of mandated school integration, many black students are bused to white schools in order to integrate these institutions. Busing becomes a controversial issue.

Today: Many African Americans question the merits of integration. A sobering statistic, more black men are in jail than in college.

1760s: African Americans are brought over to America as slaves to work on plantations in the South, as well as other areas of the colonies.

1970s: The legacy of...