Collection: Stolen But Not Broken: The Story of Enslaved Africans in America

This exhibit is sacred ground. “Stolen But Not Broken” tells the truth the world often tries to forget;  that millions of our African ancestors were kidnapped, shackled, and sold like cattle. But let it be known: they were never defeated. From the moment they were ripped from the shores of West Africa, from kingdoms like the Ashanti, the Yoruba, and the Kongo; they carried with them more than just memories. They carried culture, rhythm, language, strength, and the power of spirit. And though the chains tried to erase them, our ancestors resisted at every step. On the ships of the Middle Passage, some jumped into the ocean to choose freedom in death. On plantations, they rebelled, like Nat Turner in Virginia and the warriors of the Stono Rebellion in South Carolina. Others resisted quietly by breaking tools, preserving African traditions, teaching their children, and singing coded spirituals that mapped the road to freedom.

But this story is not just about pain: it is about power. In the belly of bondage, they built a new culture. They forged a people. The roots of Black America: our food, our music, our spiritual practices, our language, even our humor…grew out of the ashes of that suffering. They created Gullah Geechee communities, kept alive the drumbeats of the Motherland, and laid the foundation for a freedom movement that still marches on today. They were never just slaves; they were builders, healers, fighters, dreamers. This exhibit is a testimony that even in chains, Black people are mighty beyond measure. Stand in this space with pride, because their blood runs through your veins and their courage lives in your soul.