The Market House of Fayetteville, North Carolina is a building of controversy. While to many it is the site of many important events in North Carolina including the ratification of the Federal Constitution of the United States of America. To others it is an architectural gem that is listed on the Historic Register. However, to many others the building represents the pain and suffering of slaves and the unresolved issues of race in America. This small book sets out to layout both the history and events of the Fayetteville Market House as well as to find the truth to the question as to whether it was in fact a slave market. The author realizes that her conclusions will not either change the mind's of those who hold the building as a precious historical landmark nor will it ease the pain of those feel the ongoing pain of their heritage and the experiences their ancestors suffered. She does hope that she has honestly tried to find the truth and present the facts while holding the sensitivities of all parties close to her heart.

A city known historically for its ethnic diversity, Fayetteville has truly served as a leader and model in the state by providing opportunity to the African-American community. During the South's antebellum era, freedmen and local slaves established a strong black identity in the city, one that would grow cosmopolitan and evolve over the decades, surviving wars, depressions, and social inequalities. This work, with over 200 images, relates the black contribution to the city, featuring its earliest civic leaders, some of its older schools, such as Fayetteville State University, and a few of its outstanding citizens.