Answer:
Because of the centuries that slavery remained in the US and how it still impacts American culture today.
Step-by-step explanation:
Enslaved African labor was a major and essential part of the US economy and culture until the 1800s. Even after that, segregation and racism still plagued the US and we can still see remnants of it today through police brutality.
It is important to study these connections because of the major impact slavery left on the US and its culture by making African Americans more vulnerable to oppression and discrimination.