Slavery

From Vermont Racial Justice Alliance:

Are you interested in learning more about Proposition 2, the constitutional amendment to prohibit slavery in Vermont?

This session provides much needed background to help us understand why it is NECASSARY to amend the Vermont Constitution to prohibit slavery in all forms. We’ll provide details on the legislative, public and executive processes that have taken place to bring us to this important stage of the process of constitutionally prohibiting slavery in all forms in the State of Vermont.

From VRJA:

The Vermont Racial Justice Alliance is happy to have the opportunity to bring the 2022 Vermont First African Landing Day program “We’ve Come This Far By Faith." There has been nothing more vital to the persistence and tenacity of American Descendants of Slavery than their faith. Through trials and tribulations and unimaginable adversity, embracing faith has often been the only way forward. Black folks have depended on the church as a place of refuge and a headquarters from which a movement that would change a nation would operate. When we look back over our lives and think things over, most American Descendants of Slavery would agree that nothing short of a miracle has brought us as a people to this point in time. This year, Vermont First African Landing Day highlights and celebrates our faith with the words that echo through the generations, “We’ve Come this Far By Faith!"

This year Vermont First African Landing Day features “Reflections, Acknowledgements and Aspirations,” a panel discussion on where we have come form and where we agree we should be going, 403 years after the landing of the White Lion at Point Comfort!

For more information visit: firstafricanlandingvt.org/2022-program

From Vermont Racial Justice Alliance:

Allies and leaders from Vermont Racial Justice Alliance and Vermont Interfaith Action hold a press conference to launch the Abolish Slavery Vermont Campaign, calling on Vermonters to vote “Yes” on Proposal 2, the constitutional amendment stating that slavery and indentured servitude are prohibited in all forms. This question will be on the ballot in November. While Vermonters and the nation have been taught for generations that the state was the first to abolish slavery we now know that that no state constitutioanlly permitted slavery before Vermont. Vermont’s constitution permits slavery of folks under age 21 and individuals bound by their own consent. The Vermont constitution has also always permitted the enslavement of those bound for payment of debts, damages, fines, costs or “the like.” Exception clauses of 25 other state constitutions and the Thirteenth Amendment have been informed by these exception clauses in the Vermont Constitution, leading to the introduction of convict leasing in the US.

The Aboilsh Slavery Vermont Campaign focusses on human rights and connects the institution of slavery to its legacy - systemic racism. Mark Hughes, Executive Director of Vermont Racial Justice Alliance and the catalyst for the amendment, stated, “Political and economic inequality along racial lines and across all society exist today because of the legacy of slavery. This amendment goes to the heart of a 245 year old crime against humanity.” It also addresses the existence of and the ongoing impact of the thirteenth amendment exception clause. The thirteenth amendment exception clause has led to prison (industry) proliferation, skyrocketing incarceration and hugely disproportionate numbers of Black Americans being locked up.

As recorded by English colonist John Rolfe, the arrival of “20 and odd” African men and women in late August 1619, was a pivotal moment in the nation’s history. These Africans were stolen by English privateers from a Spanish slave ship and brought to Point Comfort on a ship called the White Lion. African Landing Day does not celebrate the circumstances surrounding the arrival of the first Africans to our shores. The commemoration serves as a marker in history that shines a light on the incredibly powerful 402 year journey, and offers some hope in the continued struggle to dismantle the systems of oppression created by the original sin.

Vermont First African Landing Day was established by the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance to educate the public about the arrival of Africans in the United States; to recognize and highlight the resilience and contributions of African-Americans since 1619; and, to acknowledge the impact that slavery and laws that enforced racial discrimination have on the United  States. It offers food, storytelling, dance, drumming, musical performances and more. Vermont First African Landing Day provides an opportunity for those who are interested to learn about the heritage, struggles and triumphs of the first Africans who were brought to the shores of what would become the United States.

Vermont First African Landing Day “2021”

This is a time for Vermont to join the global commemoration, to recognize and highlight the resilience and contributions of African-Americans since 1619 as we reflect upon one of the historical events that forever changed what would become the United States and the planet as we know it!

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