In 1991, the remains of more than 400 African slaves were excavated during the construction of a federal building in New York City’s Foley Square financial district. Following an extensive archeological study, Dr. Lorenzo Pace was commissioned to create a monument paying homage to the African slaves originally buried on that site in the 1700s. Pace created Triumph of the Human Spirit, a large sculpture that includes a replica of a lock that shackled Pace’s great, great grandfather. Pace is an artist, author, storyteller, performer, and lecturer. His doctorate is in art education, and he is the author of four children’s books on Black American History.