Fingerprints shine a light on the slaves who built Knoxville's Blount Mansion — and Tennessee For years visitors were told William Blount, a signer of the U.S. Constitution, built his home. Fingerprints from his slaves tell the real story. Angela Dennis, Knoxville News Sentinel Published 11:57 am UTC Dec. 11, 2020 For generations, the erasure of the Black people who built America has been a roadblock on the path to progress. The difficult but honest history of enslaved people has been left out of important narratives. This systemic racism through abatement is entrenched in the fabric of American society. But, finally, some historians are working to right that wrong.