A few free blacks were able to get an education.

But those things did not tell much about free blacks.

By 1800, there were 108,378 free blacks in a population of 7.2 million.

In Virginia 7.2 percent of the population were free blacks by 1810.

But free blacks were actually part of the community in Colonial times, he said.

By 1860, Baltimore had more free blacks than any other city.

There were times when a free black who could not get off the Shore sold himself to a white master.

While mostly led by free blacks, most of their members were slaves.

He was also one of the first to work closely with free blacks in a partnership.

The city was a growing center of free blacks, attracted to its jobs and other opportunities.