WASHINGTON -- The proud monuments and memorials of Washington, D.C. stand as mute witnesses to one of the most unforgettable chapters in America's history. Author and proud resident of Washington DC, David Stroman, gives life to history in his latest publication entitled Slavery in Washington, D.C. - now available from Jemseed Publications.

With over seventy photos and documents from the National Archives and Library of Congress, Slavery in Washington, D.C. shows markets, docks, plantations and more - including scenes of where slavery were once the order of the day.

"Throughout the history of mankind, there have been slaves in luxury parts of the world. Unknown to many, a fee of $6 to $10 was paid to most of the African kings from which slaves were taken. They were sold for $500 to $1,500 in North and South America," Stroman writes.

In the book, he also chronicles the plight of thousands of slaves and how they reached the United States. "States like Florida and South Carolina would import slaves directly from Africa. The Islands were used as breeding stations. Slave masters actually chose which slaves would mate with one another. That was to ensure that there would be slaves strong enough to do servile work," he says.

Written in lively and engaging style, Slavery in Washington, D.C. has a wide appeal from grade school to college students to current and former Washington, D.C. residents, researching family history. It also shares interesting bits and pieces of trivia, such as the fact that aside from African Americans, Native Americans and a small percentage of whites were once slaves. As a form of payment for passage, some Europeans even worked as indentured servants for seven years.

A fine artist and cartoonist, Stroman was born in Washington, D.C. and his love for the nation's capital and its rich history led to the creation of the book.