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Law of the Land\'s Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, Professor of Constitutional Law, John Jay College of Criminal Justice,  marks the 400th anniversary of the African arrival in the Virginia Colony, 1619 - 2019, as recorded by John Rolfe at The New York City Bar Association November 7, 2019. 

Jamestown, VA, founded in 1607, is seen as the cornerstone of America. The African knowledge about farming, livestock and metal works was crucial to the survival of Jamestown and the Virginia Colony. However, the legal contribution of Africans in the Colony provides pivotal insights into criminal justice, voting rights, inheritance,  citizenship, religion and racial disparities with vestiges that can be seen today. Professor Browne-Marshall discusses the controversy around the legal status of Africans in the colony, early freedom lawsuits and the intricacies of legislation leading to chattel enslavement.