2 chapters across the catalog
The arrival of the first Africans in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619 is identified as the starting point for a permanent, hereditary system of slavery tied to race. The discussion highlights how an ideology of white supremacy was constructed to rationalize the transition from indentured servitude to lifelong enslavement. This narrative is described as a tool for mental captivity that persists into the present day.
Peter Kirsanow, a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, presents data suggesting that illegal immigration has a devastating impact on the wages and employment levels of low-skilled black men. He claims that up to 40% of the decline in labor force participation among black males is attributable to competition from illegal labor. Kirsanow notes that his attempts to engage the Congressional Black Caucus and President Obama with this data were met with "crickets."
