Nigel Freeman’s African-American Fine Art department at Swann Galleries surprised many market observers when it began holding sales devoted to African-American art. Leading up to his seventh semiannual auction of African-American art, which was held on Tuesday, February 23, and earned $1.24 million, Freeman took time to speak about how the idea came about, how his specialists select art for the sale, and what he sees as the future of African American art at auction.