What Price Freedom in America

Even before the birth of George Washington racist repression and police violence, as well as charges of conspiracy and black terrorism, had been a part of American life. According to Benjamin Franklin the majority of African slaves were "of a plotting disposition, dark, sullen, malicious, revengeful and cruel in the highest degree." New York City, where the Dutch formed America's first police force, also had America's first instance of slave rebellion followed by charges of conspiracy and racist repression. On April 6, 1712, African slaves set fire to the city, killing nine whites and injuring many others. New York's colonial government responded by hanging 13 men and women, starving one person to death in chains, burning three others at the stake, and breaking one man's back on the "wheel," a European instrument of torture. In 1740 after the arrest of a white tavern owner, his white wife, and a white prostitute for setting fire to the English garrison in New York City, two African slaves were brought to trial for theft and conspiracy in the fire.This article can also be found at the Monthly Review website, where most recent articles are published in full.Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website

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