These slaves were captured in Africa and sold to the English by Portuguese slave traders. They were then transported across the Atlantic Ocean in cramped, unsanitary conditions, and many died during the journey. Those who survived were sold at auction to plantation owners in Virginia.
The arrival of these slaves marked the beginning of a long and tragic history of slavery in the United States. Over the next two centuries, millions of Africans would be forcibly transported to the Americas, where they were forced to work in harsh and dangerous conditions. The institution of slavery would have a devastating impact on African-American communities and would leave a lasting legacy of racism and discrimination that persists to this day.