History
We start by tracing the early experience of African Americans in 1619 and overview how racial views from Europe influenced the early structures of governance from the colonies through the founding of the United States to the end of the nineteenth century.
We begin with the arrival of the first African slaves on the North American shores in 1619 and continue through the resurgence of white supremacy in the early twenty-first century. While the history section is, for now, complete, we will continuously update the website.
We hope this historical overview is a first step toward creating a more just and democratic society. As communities organize to advocate for more economic opportunity, community-based policing, and fair access to health care and education, we all benefit from understanding the systems that contributed to the inequalities and biases experienced today.
1619: Labor Hierarchies
From the beginning of the English colonies in their “New” World, the division between free and unfree labor was clear. The use of indentured servitude, while not a new practice, became a popular source of labor.
1630: Western Notions of the “Black Race”
The “curse” theory, as it was known, validated the existence of a God-ordained hierarchy between the races – the white man represented the chosen leaders of mankind and the Black represented those cursed and inferior.
1662: English Slave Practices
As the African slave population increased across the colonies, slave laws adapted to ensure the continuation of the institution.