Chronicles five hundred years of African-American history from the origins of slavery on the African continent through Barack Obama's second presidential term, examining contributing political and cultural events.

Africans in the Americas, 1500-1540 -- The worlds slavery made, 1526-1763 -- The age of revolutions, 1700-1811 -- Half slave, half free, 1797-1858 -- The war to end slavery, 1859-1865 -- Reconstruction and redemption, 1865-1900 -- The nadir and the renaissance, 1890-1940 -- Rise!: a people emergent, 1940-1968 -- From Black Power to the White House, 1968-2013.