Once Africans arrived on the American continent their skills took over their instincts. Living in abundance in the motherland, there had been no shortage in what resources an African could draw from. As seamen, from the outset of humanity, these men of the earth were ample in their one with natural elements. As whalers, as mariners , as frontiersmen and women, as bull dogging bronco bustin' herders and wranglers, as trackers, as scouts and as domestic diplomats. Anything necessary to bring civilized conditions that could include educators, barbers, minister, shamans and voodoo queens.

Rendering of Alexander Leidesdorf's Hotel at Kearny and Clay. Mid 1800s