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Overview
In the early days of colonial Virginia, Africans had many rights similar to Englishmen. Over time, though, these African colonists lost their rights to Englishmen. Their progress slowly left them as English settlers made more discriminating laws, making slavery more race based than anything! Anthony Johnson is a rich former slave that lives in the time of diminishing progress. He really gives us a good background as to how Africans lived in Virginia before their progress was diminished. -
Period: to
Time of Diminished Progress
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African Settlers Lose Guns
This begins African's loss rights in colonial Virginia. Although this is a small change, it is still discriminatory and will affect laws to come. This makes Africans dependent of Englishmen for food and protection, which gives the English more power. -
Anthony Johnson: the Landowner
Anthony Johnson acquiring land is important because Mr. Johnson shares land with someone. This shows that he has respect enough to divide land and crops with another man. He states his progress by saying "I can work when I please and play when I please." Court Case A, page 16 -
Anthony Johnson Petitions for his Slave, John Casar
Anthony Johnson petitioning for his slave/ indentured servant shows progress of rights. In this time frame, there was nothing unsual for land owners like Anthony to own slaves. He owns slaves and that tells us that this former slave is very rich. It also shows that he has enough authority to go to court and be taken for his word. -
Slaves can be Killed without Penalty
A large change in the way slavery is dealt with, "accidential" killing of slaves is no longer a felony. Their arguement? That no one would intentionally harm their own ESTATE.This is the first mention to Africans as property, and a nasty one at that. It is noted in the law "if any slave resist his master (or other by his masters order correcting him) and by the extremity of the correction should chance to die, that his death shall not be -
Slaves can be Killed without Penalty part II
accompted ffelony," Act I, page seven. This law is a terrible gain of power for the English, and a new fear for Africans. -
Africans are Real Estate.
Maybe the largest loss Africans have to face is the final one in this timeline. After hinting at such a thing, enslaved Africans become property of their "owners." Such a terrible law makes it so that these living, breathing humans have no more rights than your computer.This is a huge diminishment for years to come. -
Conclusion
Freedom is of new meaning. What it truly is to be "free" is not to be individualized or stood for. Freedom has really become a struggle. It's an uphill battle agianst those who want to opress us. Africans like Anthony Johnson learned freedom as belonging to yourself. Some Africans, unfortunately, didn't have such a privilege of freedom. They lost their rights over a matter of years. Their freedoms went from plentiful to non-existent. They became property, with barely any rights. -
Conclusion part II
You might want that iPhone, you might want that new book, but you have rights. I guess that's really what freedom is. What you have. You have the right to pursue happiness. You have the right to life, and liberty. Feel grateful, for you CAN save up for the iPhone. At least you don't have the limited rights and restrictions as an iPhone.You are free.
