A young boy born into slavery meets a newly purchased slave from Africa who refuses to let go of his culture, despite the master's attempts to christianize him.

Louise, a humble "honey-colored" slave, gains a new master whose wife loves to paint. The master leaves town, and Louise must endure an uncomfortable few weeks posing naked for his wife.

An African man arguing for his ancient grandfather’s passage to Mecca tells the story of his enslavement and separation from his brother during the American Civil War.

When a man visits an old village called Ain Tadouirt to visit an old friend and conduct research, he becomes captured by a tribe and forced to entertain. He must figure out how to escape a life of enslavement in a foreign land.

A freed slave on an alien planet reflects on the enormous societal upheavals she witnessed and led.

A free black man in the late eighteenth century knows that his enslaved companions envy his liberty — but he soon learns just how much they're willing to sacrifice for their own freedom.

A lineage of women born of the First Mother who escaped slavery survive in a swamp for several generations until some of the women begin to consider life outside the swamp.

A Black, southern house servant with internalized racism, joins her mistress on a visit to another region, where she observes Black people acting with something she abhors: autonomy.

An imaginary Black servant on a turn-of-the-century plantation ends up permanently changing the owner's fortunes — despite being a figment of his imagination.

A white woman talks to several Negro slaves who tell her stories about their personal lives. She learns about their partners and their and families.