The Slave Act of 1705: Legalizing Human Suffering
In 1705, Virginia passed a law that would help shape the cruel system of slavery in America. Known as the Slave Act of 1705, this legislation made it clear: Black people were to be treated as property, not people. This was one of the earliest examples of race-based laws that laid the groundwork for centuries of oppression.
Under this act, enslavement became permanent and passed down through generations. If a child was born to an enslaved mother—even if the father was white—that child was born a slave. In other words, your bloodline determined your fate.
The law also gave slaveowners full power over the lives of enslaved people. They could beat, torture, and even kill them without facing legal consequences. Enslaved people had no rights. They were listed among a slaveowner’s property—like cattle, land, or tools.
This act wasn’t just about labor. It was about control. It criminalized Black freedom and codified racism into law. Over time, other colonies followed Virginia’s lead, and these laws evolved into Black Codes, Fugitive Slave Laws, and later, Jim Crow laws.
Let’s be honest—this wasn’t just history. The mindset that created the 1705 Slave Act still exists today in the form of structural inequality, mass incarceration, and economic exclusion.
Understanding this law isn’t just about knowing the past. It’s about recognizing the systems that were built to keep certain people down—and why they still need to be dismantled today.
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Marvin Dixon/Founder
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