The arrival of the first Africans at Jamestown in 1619 is often considered the beginning of the history of Black America. These individuals were brought to the Virginia Colony on a Dutch ship and were initially treated as indentured servants rather than slaves. Over time, however, their status—and the status of other Africans brought to the colonies—evolved, with enslaved Africans becoming an integral part of the workforce, particularly in the agricultural economy of the Southern colonies.

The 1619 event is significant not only because it marks the start of the African presence in what would become the United States, but it also serves as a key moment in understanding the development of slavery in the American colonies, which had profound effects on the social, economic, and political landscape of the future United States.