Editor,

A few facts of thousands not included in Black History Month. Most people’s historical knowledge of African slavery and white slaves in the United States seems very limited.

Systematic slavery in the colonies began in 1626, when eleven captive Africans arrived on a Dutch West India Company ship in New Amsterdam’s harbor.

New Amsterdam became New York City and by 1703, more than 42% of New York City’s households held slaves, a percentage higher than other colonial city, second to Charleston South Carolina.

The city was swept by periodic fears of slave and indentured servant revolt. Incidents were misinterpreted under such conditions. In what was called the New York Conspiracy of 1741, city officials believed a revolt had started. Over weeks, they arrested more than 150 slaves and 20 white men including indentured servants. They were tried and several executing in the belief they had planned the revolt.

Thirteen Africans were burned at the stake while alive.

All 13 colonies practiced slavery. New England ships transported African and white slaves. Some misinformed people blame the South and democrats for founding slavery.

There were no democrats during colonial times. Read “They Were White But They Were Slaves” to learn about whites who were slaves just as Africans but were treated worse as they cost nothing.

In 1619, 20 Africans arrived in James Town, Virginia on two English privateer ships flying Dutch flags. They traded 20 Angolans as indentured servants for supplies. One chose the name Anthony Johnson and he eventually bought his freedom becoming a slave owner. GOOGLE his name. Oh yes, Republican General U.S. Grant owned black slaves. Jim Crow Laws were in Northern States before Southern States.

GOOGLE Liberia to learn where Northern states shipped their unwanted slaves.

Ten years ago my DNA showed 51% American Indian and 13 other ethnicities including 7% African. My Apache people, like other tribes, enslaved other tribal people. Shoshone Sacajawea was captured by Minatare Warriors and sold to the Mandan tribe. Toussaint Charbonneau purchased the 13 year old as a wife. One of the greatest Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, as a youth, was indentured.

Historians say apprenticed. Read Franklin’s autobiography for truth.

My next letter will name Black plantation owners who owned Black slaves and a Black Spanish conquistador. I am thankful I entered first grade in 1944 when we were taught history along with the three Rs and critical thinking.

Sincerely,

Paul E Puebla