house resolution no.141

Reps. Gay-Dagnogo, Rabhi, Tate, Cynthia Johnson, Cherry, Love,  Pohutsky, Shannon, Sowerby, and Stone offered the following resolution:

A resolution to honor 400 years of African American heritage in the United States of America.

Whereas, The 100th Michigan Legislature recognizes, honors, and acknowledges 400 years of African-American heritage in the United States of America; and

Whereas, The Africans who came to Virginia in 1619 had been taken from West Central Africa; and

Whereas, Africans were first brought involuntarily to the shores of America, as the first Africans arrived in Virginia because of the transatlantic slave trade; and

Whereas, The Africans were sold into bondage despite Virginia having no clear-cut laws sanctioning slavery. Across three and a half centuries—from 1501 to 1867—more than 12.5 million Africans were captured, sold, and transported to the Americas. The English ship, White Lion, arrived at Point Comfort, or present-day Hampton, Virginia, toward the end of August 2019. John Rolfe, a prominent planter and merchant, reported that “20. and odd Negroes” were “bought for victuals.”; and

Whereas, The majority of Africans were acquired by wealthy and well-connected English planters including Governor Sir George Yeardley and the cape, or head, merchant, Abraham Piersey. It is estimated that during the 300 years of the transatlantic slave trade, between 12 million and 20 million Africans were transported to the Americas as slaves. Of these, more than 400,000 were sent to the 13 British colonies and, later, the United States. Current estimates hold that more than 1 million Africans died on these journeys; and

Whereas, Uncompensated labor served as a major foundation upon much of the wealth found in the United States. By 1840, slave-labor-produced cotton was 59 percent of United States exports and became a driving force behind the Industrial Revolution. The profits, while beginning from forced labor in the south, spread across the nation as ports and merchants carried the product of the labor. The extraction and accumulation of wealth from enslaved Africans has created a direct, measurable economic disparity with modern impact estimates ranging in the trillions. Enslaved Africans laid the literal cornerstones of American institutions, such as the U.S. Capitol Building, White House, Wall Street, and numerous prominent universities; and

Whereas, Throughout the entire history of African-American heritage, African-Americans not only persevered, African-Americans thrived and successfully contributed to every aspect of American society. Four hundred years after the first Africans were brought to America against their will, African-Americans have proudly volunteered in every American war, from the Revolutionary War to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some of the most successful business people, astronauts, athletes, leaders and a President are African-Americans who are direct descendants of the original Africans brought to this country as slaves; and

Whereas, Throughout perilous sacrifices, African American citizens continue to contribute to the strength, will, history, and culture of the United States; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body honor 400 years of African-American heritage in the United States of America.