Welcome to the documentary from the BBC World Service. I'm Laura Jones. From Witness History, this is a special episode to Mark Black History Month in the US. We've brought together some of the highlights from our show, looking back at the challenges and victories of the African American journey. Our nine-minute stories from history, featured on weekdays on the World Service, are

told through the people who are there. Make sure you subscribe to witness history, wherever you get

your BBC podcasts, so you never miss an episode. A warning, some of the following stories

contain depictions of violence that may be upsetting. Let's begin at the end of the 19th century.

After the Civil War, African Americans in southern states faced a wave of political and racial

violence. In response, thousands sought to leave the US and travel to Liberia. Professor Kenneth

Barnes is from the University of Central Arkansas.

He told Rob Walker about a series of letters,

revealing why so many Black Arkansasans dreamed of Liberia

and what awaited them there.

At the end of the 19th century, a terrifying wave of political violence was directed at black people in the American South.

Many left the southern states in response.

But what was extraordinary was that thousands of African Americans attempted to travel all the way to

Liberia in West Africa, a place they saw as their only chance of living freely and safely.

This is a story that starts in the late 1800s, but details about it only came to light much more recently after an unexpected discovery.

I came across a stray reference to the school that black and white students attended closed down because all the black families left for Liberia,

and that was a very curious statement.

Kenneth Barnes is a professor of history at the University of Central Arkansas.

He started trying to find out who these black families were and why they'd gone to Liberia,

and he discovered a fascinating and dramatic series of letters.

Letter from H. C. C. Cade, Camden, Arkansas, November the 20th, 1890.

Dear sir, we do not feel safe to stay here, as on the night before the last election here,

...