Africans and their descendants constituted the majority of the population of the Americas for most of the first 300 years. Yet their fundamental roles in the creation and definition of the new societies of the new world, and their significance in this development, has not been acknowledged. This volume highlights the African presence throughout the Americas, and African and African diasporan contributions to the materials and cultural life of all the Americas and all Americans. It includes articles from scholars and cultural leaders from African diasporan communities. The book offers perspectives, data and interpretations that challenge prevailing understanding of the Americas. Its basic premise is that the story of the Americas can only be accurately told by including the story of the foundational roles played by Africans and their descendants in the Americas.