“”hundreds of thousands of black people in their midst””
In 1619 in America, I doubt that number!
| Date | Slaves |
|---|---|
| 1620–1650 | 141 |
| 1651–1675 | 5,508 |
| 1676–1700 | 14,306 |
| 1701–1725 | 49,096 |
| 1726–1750 | 129,004 |
| 1751–1775 | 144,468 |
| 1776–1800 | 36,277 |
| 1801–1825 | 93,000 |
| 1826–1850 | 105 |
| 1851–1866 | 476 |
| Total | 472,381 |
RE: In 1619 in America, I doubt that number!
Your doubts are well founded.
SOURCE: HISTORIC JAMESTOWN
https://www.nps.gov/jame/learn/historyculture/african-americans-at-jamestown.htm
(EXCERPT)
The first documented arrival of Africans to the colony of Virginia was recorded by John Rolfe: “About the latter end of August, a Dutch man of Warr of the burden of a 160 tunes arrived at Point-Comfort, the Comandors name Capt Jope, his Pilott for the West Indies one Mr Marmaduke an Englishman. … He brought not any thing but 20. and odd Negroes, w[hich] the Governo[r] and Cape Merchant bought for victuall[s].” The year was 1619, and as an institution slavery did not yet exist in Virginia. Slavery as we know it today, evolved gradually, beginning with customs rather than laws.