To understand the origins of wealth inequality and discrimination, we must look at the history of slavery. The value of slavesEconomists and historians have examined detailed aspects of the enslaved experience for as long as slavery existed. With less than one year of operation, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History, which devotes several galleries to the history of slavery, has had more than 1 million visitors. American slavery happened—we are still living with its consequences. I believe we are finally ready to face it, learn about it and acknowledge its significance to American history.