A mystery that can be solved

"Since slaves were not allowed to attend school, formally marry, own land or vote, African-American genealogical research is difficult. Paper trails rarely exist.
What further complicates matters is that many slaves were sold to various masters and consequently took several surnames during their lives. Many freed slaves also chose new names to distance themselves from their oppressors.
But resources do exist for African-Americans who want to learn more about their ancestry, said Vivian Fisher, manager of the African-American Department at Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Free Library." Read on.