The story of Raleigh’s African American communities begins before the Civil War, with towns like Oberlin Village, built by free people of color. The creation of thirteen freedmen’s villages defined the racial boundaries of Raleigh during Reconstruction and demonstrated the determination and resilience of these formerly enslaved North Carolinians. After World War II, new suburbs sprang up, telling tales of the growth and struggles of the Black community under Jim Crow. Many of these communities endure today. Dozens of never-before-published pictures and maps illustrate this hidden history. Local historian Carmen Wimberley Cauthen tells the story of a people who— despite slavery—wanted to learn, grow, and be treated as any others.