The transatlantic slave trade is a huge and tragic chapter in history, filled with hardship and suffering. Yet, what’s seldom discussed is where these enslaved people actually went. Out of the estimated 12.5 million slaves dragged across the ocean, nearly half found themselves in Brazil, while a significant number also embarked upon harsh lives in the Caribbean. More slaves ended up in Jamaica, St. Dominic, and Cuba than in the entire future United States.

In the grand scheme, only about 5% of all those enslaved were brought to what would become the United States. The conversation in the classroom often lacks nuance, reducing history to a simplistic blame game. Where’s the acknowledgment of the full global scale of this tragic trade? Where’s the discourse on the brutal conditions in parts of the world that received far greater numbers?

Interestingly, and perhaps surprisingly to some, the slaves who ended up in the U.S. arguably faced better circumstances than many who were sent elsewhere. The survival rates, prospects for freedom, and eventual pathways to justice and recognition were more favorable in America than in other destinations.

Here lies a challenge: embrace a more comprehensive understanding of history. Historical accuracy shouldn’t serve a political agenda. It should aim to educate, include, and above all, provide a well-rounded view of the events that shaped the world.