Anthony Johnson

Who? Never heard of him....

Anthony Johnson was a farmer in Virginia in the early 17th century. In 1651 he held a total of 250 acres and owned five indentured servants. Slavery was still thriving near Northampton, and when the time came for his servants to be released, Johnson fought to keep them.

Prior to 1655, owners were only allowed to keep indentured servants for seven years, then they had to be released. Same rules for black and white, upon their release they were granted 50 acres of land.

Johnson filed suit in Northampton County when John Castor left his farm and went to work for Robert Parker. Johnson had told Castor he was extending his time, and Castor left anyway. The lawsuit began in 1654 and in 1655, the court made a ruling that would change our history.

The court ruled that a a black man could own other blacks as slaves. Johnson became the first legal slave owner in the United States.


What? You didn't know that Anthony Johnson was black? History classes never taught his story? Yes, the first legal slave owner was a black man. He was brought to America in 1619 from Angola. He worked a tobacco farm until he was freed, and granted his own lands. During his employment, he survived an attack on the farm by Powhatan Indians and was one of five people of 57 to survive the attack.

In 1670, whites and Indians were granted the right by the colonial assembly to own slaves. Five years after the first slave owner was declared. A black man.

All those years ago, Anthony Johnson set a course that he didn't sail alone. By 1830 there were several thousand black slave owners in the South. After the Civil War, many of them had to free their slaves just as others did. They were responsible for the enslavement of tens of thousands over the previous 100 years.


As we look at current events in the US, we can see shouting about how blacks have been "oppressed", :held back", even references to current "slavery" by whites. "Second class citizens", unable to achieve greater things because of events over 150 years ago. Robbed of proper education, made to live in inhumane conditions. Reduced to taking handouts from the government, unable to care for their families.

Here's a mirror, America. Look closely. Who's holding you back?



Y'all can close your mouths now. You knew I was gonna teach about all kinds of things.