Inspired by the forgotten burial ground discovered in lower Manhattan, this book tells the story of the first African-American New Yorkers through 25 beautiful gouache paintings and striking prose. Opening with an essay that sets the tone, the book brings history alive with emotion through powerful imagery, and plays with size and placement of the images to convey a unique feel. It concludes with an interview with the painter where he discusses what life is like for an artist, how he views the art world’s acceptance of him as a black artist, and his feelings on artist collaboration.