It is essential to tell the historically accurate story of Black Life on the Upper Mississippi. When unknown, history often repeats itself. This documentary highlights hope, fear, truth, and direction. First, the city of Dubuque is known as the Masterpiece on the Mississippi. Like a puzzle, if you lose a piece, it’s incomplete and broken. Back in the year 1985, there was a saying that the last person leaving turns the lights off. Covid-19. Businesses closing. Employee shortage. Housing shortage. Airlines pulling out. Despite the pandemic, the hope is that we can be great here. But we must have all the pieces fit comfortably within this picture. How? We go back to when Dubuque had over 75 African American families here in Dubuque prospering. History tends to repeat itself when we don’t learn what we need to move forward. We must look back at this time period when our Black community prospered as a hint to how we move forward where Dubuque can truly be a masterpiece on the Mississippi because all the pieces are fitting with room for more. The truth is though, this is not about the black community being the answer. We cannot force the Black community to join organizations and accept. We must create a genuine harmonious environment in which our focus is not on the race of an individual but the vibrancy of having all of us together brings about a masterpiece. The healing will start by revealing the damage that has been done and accepting the damage that has been created over generations.