[1] A twelve-year-old African boy, Hwesuhunu, is kidnapped from his homeland by French slave traders,[2] and endures the terrors of the Middle Passage and being sold into slavery.

He is assigned the new name of Wes Hunu, and spends years as a slave before escaping and living for a time with Native Americans.

Hwesuhunu goes to Freedom Island, a refuge located in a swamp, that sheltered escaped slaves.

But the refuge is governed by a cruel bully, so Hwesuhunu leaves in search of a better home.

[5] In 1978, Haley paid Courlander and his publisher $650,000 (~$2.38 million in 2023) as out-of-court settlement of the lawsuit.