In 1619, a significant event occurred in Black history known as the arrival of the first Africans to be forcibly brought to the English colony of Virginia. These Africans were captured by Portuguese slave traders from what is now Angola, and they were traded for food and supplies in the British colony. This event is often considered the beginning of chattel slavery in the English colonies that would later become the United States.

The arrival of these Africans marked the start of a long and painful history of slavery and oppression for Black people in America. The institution of slavery would grow and become deeply entrenched in the American economy and society, lasting for over two centuries until it was officially abolished with the passage of the 13th Amendment in 1865.

The year 1619 is a pivotal moment in Black history as it represents the beginning of the African diaspora in the United States and the legacy of racial injustice and inequality that continues to impact Black communities to this day.