It’s important for them to know their heritage, to know their lineage, to know about the horrible global business of slavery. In a lot of cases, I’ve talked to scholars and historians who say that we need to be in the position to tell our own stories so that we can pass these truths to the generations of young people who come after us. I think it’s important so that we get the story right. Why do you think it’s important for African Americans to study and to tell the story about African American history? Historians come in all colors, shapes and sizes.

I thought the best way to do it would be through writing Shackles From The Deep, because it’s part detective story, part underwater mystery, part personal journey and part history. I thought, “maybe she’s onto something”, so I began to talk about how to share this story with young people in a way that would resonate with them to discuss the pain and injustice of the slave trade and in a conversational way that they can relate to and understand. When I was working on the first book, The Wreck of Henrietta Marie, I started talking to my daughter about it and she said that she thought it would be a good idea to write something that would resonate with young people. What inspired you to explore the Henrietta Marie and write Shackles from the Deep ? Told from Cottman’s perspective, this book introduces young readers to the wonders of diving, detective work, and discovery, while shedding light on the history of slavery. ‘Shackles From The Deep’ is more than just the story of one ship, the ‘Henrietta Marie’-it's the untold story of millions of people taken as captives to the New World. Cottman also serves as a special consultant to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration for a national multimedia project, 'Voyage to Discovery,' an education initiative that focuses on the African-American contribution to the maritime industry spanning 300 years and efforts to teach students of color about careers in marine biology and oceanography. Cottman, Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and author, is a former political reporter for the Washington Post. While Black History Month is coming to a close, these books and the authors' thoughts, below, remind us that black history is America’s history and celebrated every day. These authors tell the unvarnished truth about African American history during the slave trade (Cottman’s Shackles From The Deep) and the Civil Rights Movement (Bausum’s The March Against Fear). Cottman, who have each devoted their careers to discovery, research, exploration and impact.

In continued celebration of Black History Month, National Geographic recently released books by authors, Ann Bausum and Michael H.

Million Man March by Michael H. Cottman