First Africans in Virginia facts for kids
The first Africans in Virginia were a group of about 20 people who arrived at Old Point Comfort in Hampton, Virginia, in late August 1619. They were originally from modern-day Angola. Their arrival is a very important moment in the history of slavery in Virginia. It is also seen as the start of African-American history in mainland British America.
These people had been kidnapped from the Kingdom of Ndongo (which is now part of Angola). They were forced onto a slave ship called the San Juan Bautista. This ship was taking over 300 enslaved people to New Spain (modern-day Mexico). However, an English ship called The White Lion, led by "Capt Jope," attacked the San Juan Bautista. They took some of the enslaved people. These people were then sold to the governor of Virginia.
Since 1994, people like Calvin Pearson and his group, "Project 1619 Inc," have worked to remember this event. Their efforts led to a special marker being placed at Old Point Comfort in 2007. This area also became the Fort Monroe National Monument in 2011. In August 2019, many events happened to mark the 400th anniversary of this arrival. This included The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones and the Year of Return, Ghana 2019 in Ghana.
The Journey from Angola
During the Atlantic slave trade, which began in the 1400s, European traders took many African people across the Atlantic Ocean. They were forced to work in colonies in the Americas, like Brazil. It's believed that about 4.9 million people from Africa were brought to Brazil between 1501 and 1866.
Many people were captured by Portuguese slave traders and their African allies. These captives were often taken from the Kingdom of Ndongo in Angola. They were then sent to ports and shipped to different parts of the Spanish and Portuguese Empires. These two empires were joined together at that time. The people taken from Angola might have belonged to the Ambundu ethnic group.
In 1619, a Portuguese ship called the San Juan Bautista carried a large group of enslaved people. They traveled through the Middle Passage from Luanda in Angola to Veracruz in Mexico. Out of 350 people on the ship, about 143 died during the journey. Also, 24 children were sold during a stop in Jamaica. About 123 enslaved people eventually reached Veracruz. A smaller group, around 20 to 30 people, were taken by other ships, as you'll read next.
From Mexico to Virginia
Near Veracruz, in the Bay of Campeche, two English ships attacked the San Juan Bautista. These ships were the White Lion and the Treasurer. They were acting as "privateers," which means they were private ships allowed by a government to attack enemy ships. They took about 20 to 30 African captives each.
These captives were brought to Old Point Comfort in Virginia. This was the first time such a group was brought to mainland English America. Most of the people from the Treasurer were later taken to Bermuda. Only a few were sold in Virginia. English privateers had been sailing under different flags since a peace treaty was signed in 1604.
A very old document from 1619 describes the arrival of the White Lion:
About the latter end of August, a Dutch man of Warr of the burden of a 160 tunes arriued at Point-Comfort, the Comandor name Capt Jope, his Pilott for the West Indyes one Mr Marmaduke an Englishman. They mett wth the Trer in the West Indyes, and determyned to hold consort shipp hetherward, but in their passage lost one the other. He brought not any thing but 20. and odd Negroes, wth the Governor and Cape Marchant bought for vietualle (whereof he was in greate need as he p’tended) at the best and easyest rate they could. He hadd a largge and ample Comyssion from his Excellency to range and to take purchase in the West Indyes.
One of the enslaved women from the Treasurer was named Angela. She was bought by Captain William Peirce. She is the earliest enslaved African in the Virginia colony whose name we know from history.
Remembering the Event
Many people have recognized the importance of the 1619 arrival over the years. Abraham Lincoln mentioned "the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil" in his 1865 speech. This is thought to be a reference to the events of 1619.
George Washington Williams wrote the first full book on African American history in 1882. In it, he said the 1619 arrival was the starting point for this history.
In 1969, Virginia marked the 350th anniversary. Civil rights lawyer Oliver Hill helped organize it. However, some people, like future-Governor Douglas Wilder, felt it was not a time for celebration. There was also a commemoration for the 375th anniversary in 1994.
The 400th anniversary in 2019 was a big event. The "400 Years of African-American History Commission" helped organize it. This commission works with the National Park Service at Fort Monroe National Monument. That year also saw the start of The 1619 Project by The New York Times. And Ghana held the Year of Return to encourage people of African descent to visit or move to Africa.
