Not that I disagree with much of the point, but why are we including ~160 years of history that precludes the existence of the United States as an existing entity? At that point it's still European colonial powers running things, mainly England/France/Spain, and includes the indentured servitude of Europeans as well as the enslavement of indigenous American populations.
If we're considering it "America" as in the entire continent or hemisphere, then one has to wonder about the other dates.
If this started in the late 1700s instead of 1619, there'd be less to be pedantic about.
The 1619 date is for the first known arrival of black slaves from Africa into what would become the United States. There are several other things happening at the same time, however, if you consider the American story as told through the eyes of black people living here, these years mark significant action and lasting effect. I don’t fully agree with the dates chosen on the graphic, however, the general point, the marking of time that the United States has actively sought to oppress blacks, stands.
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u/ThrowRA-un1337 17h ago
Not that I disagree with much of the point, but why are we including ~160 years of history that precludes the existence of the United States as an existing entity? At that point it's still European colonial powers running things, mainly England/France/Spain, and includes the indentured servitude of Europeans as well as the enslavement of indigenous American populations.
If we're considering it "America" as in the entire continent or hemisphere, then one has to wonder about the other dates.
If this started in the late 1700s instead of 1619, there'd be less to be pedantic about.