5. The legacy of slavery on generations.
The introduction to The 1619 Project opens with this: “In August of 1619, a ship appeared on the horizon near Point Comfort, a coastal port in the English colony of Virginia.” This ship carried more than 20 enslaved Africans, marking the beginning of a brutal system of slavery that would profoundly shape the history of this nation. As the Project explains, “No aspect of the nation formed here has been untouched by the centuries of slavery that followed.”
In examining the legacy of slavery, it’s essential to recognize its ongoing impact on our society today. From economic disparities to racial injustices, the consequences of slavery ripple through generations.
The legacy of slavery, deeply embedded in the history of this nation, still influences our present. As you engage with the materials and reflections below, consider how the legacy of slavery impacts both our past and our ongoing struggles for justice and equity.
Coates writes, “Two hundred fifty years of slavery. Ninety years of Jim Crow. Sixty years of separate but equal. Thirty-five years of racist housing policy. Until we reckon with our compounding moral debts, America will never be whole.”
How was race used to justify slavery, genocide, and the theft of land in American history?
- Consider how slavery was taught to you in school (e.g., K-12). Why do you think the true history of slavery is not more commonly discussed? Where do you still see racial ideologies at play today?
Reflect on your reactions to the content of this module.
- Are you feeling uncomfortable or tempted to avoid the topic? If so, consider the root of those feelings and challenge yourself to engage with them.
Why do you think there is resistance to teaching the full history of slavery?
- What impact does that resistance have on our understanding of both the past and present?
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