Against a backdrop of horrifyingly inhumane degradation, a people arrived here in chains, physically and mentally.

Brought here as chattel, they were denied dignity, families torn apart, not permitted to achieve, not even allowed to learn to read.

But they brought with them not only the will to survive a squalid existence; they brought a resilence, and a dignity and pride strong enough to achieve both a hard fought battle for their freedom and a long and proud history of accomplishments and contributions to the building of our nation.

When we pay homage to “those upon whose shoulders we stand,” we show respect for many of our forefathers and foresisters who fought for equality and whose history of achievements were made against great odds. We acknowledge that their spirit continues to guide us.

We think about our once unheralded heroes like Harriet Tubman and her brave rallying cry as she worked to free her people from bondage “ let my people go” Or the brave men of the 54th regimen, who gathered to fight against the tyranny of the times, at the African Meeting House the oldest standing black church in the nation built by freed black men. The majestic meeting house still stands here on Beacon Hill, once a thriving black community.

Not all of our history is about slavery, but unfortunately it’s where African American history begins.

Here in Boston and other cities, Blacks and whites launched Underground Railroad stops manned by a strong abolitionist movement. People like Elizabeth Freeman (Mum Bett) and others challenged the system through the courts and won their freedom and freedom for others along the way. Breaking the back of slavery by outlawing it was essential and Massachusetts was among the first to outlaw it.

The work of activists and advocates played and continue to play a role in safeguarding our accomplishments for generations to come.

Among them, one of my favorites, William Monroe Trotter, who led a massive demonstration against the foul movie, “Birth of a Nation.” Trotter’s newspaper was a precursor to this paper, our own trailblazing Bay State Banner now celebrating 60 years. The NAACP got an early start here thanks in great measure to the work of the brilliant W.E.B. Du Bois.

Prince Hall, Phillis Wheatley, Frederick Douglas, Ida B. Wells, Maria Stewart, Martin, Malcolm, and relative newbies Edward Brooke, Ayanna Pressley, all history firsts and barrier breakers.

Craftsmen, artists, inventors, too many to name here, contributed to the lives of all people.

Suffice it to say, African Americans were the hands and the brains that helped build a nation. They contributed to the architectural building of the White House and calibrated the streets and street lights around it. They deserve their recognition as both freedom fighters and history builders.

Recently, I was reminded of one of my favorite chants that shows for me an important trajectory of African American history. It goes: Rosa sat so Martin could walk, so Barack could run ... and win.

Today our first and only Black president and his wife were depicted as apes in a missive issued by the White House, an assault that is beyond comprehension for two of the nation’s favorites.

Just goes to show the work against racism continues.

African American history should not be a mystery. But much of it has been hidden. Yet the spirit and determination and contributions of a people made despite great odds can never be diminished, even as some today challenge its worthiness.

African American history was earned through blood, sweat and tears. It’s relevance can and should never be denied. It is, after all, American history. We need to stand strong against any effort to diminish or delete it.

Joyce Ferriabough is a prominent Boston-based political consultant and media strategist.