Explore the race to preserve endangered African historical documents across the Atlantic World in this TEDx talk. Discover how African history in the United States predates the commonly cited 1619 Jamestown accounts by over a century. Learn about international efforts to digitally preserve endangered documents that reveal a more extensive and rich history of Africans in the Atlantic World. Gain insights into key historical figures like Juan Garrido, Francisco Menendez, and Georges Biasu, and understand the significance of West African baptism and coartacion. Delve into the importance of digital archives in Cuba and Colombia, and their impact on descendants. Uncover a narrative that challenges traditional perspectives on African slavery and provides a more comprehensive understanding of African contributions to Atlantic World history.