(Virginia*** 😵 Sorry for mistakes, I should have proof-read better)

Virginal courts seized his land upon his death, claiming he had no will and was a 'Negro', and therefore was an alien. As such, he was not eligible to own land. His dependants continued to move, going to Deleware and North Carolina to try and escape the increasingly unwelcoming society.

One such case of an African indentured servant was Anthony Johnson. 'Antonio', as he was called, fulfilled his contract and was granted his free dues. He became a land owner and had a family. During his and his wife, Mary's time, they left Virgina and, purchasing land elsewhere.

When immigration slowed down, America turned to the transatlantic slave trade. European traders were purchasing slaves from Africans off the coast of Africa and began selling them to America. In very rare cases, some Africans were contracted indentured servants but most became slaves to land owners.

Those who survived indentured servitude were paid in land and considered free. To the ones who became land owners and legal voters, they called it the Land of the Free. After a period of time, the work conditions/contract no longer attracted enough people, as the chances of survival were not great.

Immigrants had to sign a contract of indentured servitude which typically lasted 5-7 years. In this time, they worked under a master/owner who could beat them, sell them, and overwork them. Not everyone survived these conditions and costs, but those who lived would receive a their "Free Dues".

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We like to think these events happened generations ago and once a milestone was reached we think the victory is won and done, but often it was only the begin of a long battle. Ruby Bridges herself can still tell you that the fight for equality never ended.

Ruby is still alive and well, still telling her story. In 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit, she saved the very school that she attended I'm her youth, stating “I felt like if anybody was to save the school, it would be me”

Ruby remains an activist to this day and there have been books written about her, such as "The Story of Ruby Bridges." And Ruby has gone on to write books, including, "Dear Ruby, Hear Our Hearts" and "This Is Your Time". She founded "The Ruby Bridges Foundation" in 1999.

Children refused to play with her or be her friend because she was black. Their parents even told them specifically to stay away from her. Ruby says that this was the first time she truly experienced racism. It all clicked why there were no other kids with her. It was due to the color of her skin.

Ruby's teacher, Barbara Henry, who was solely responsible for her education, insisted on Ruby's integration with the white children. She went as far as threatening the school with filing a report for not following the desegregation laws. By the end of the year, Ruby was allowed in white classrooms.

For the entire first year, Ruby was taught separately and escorted by US Marshals. She was harassed by adults and one woman even showed her a black doll in a coffin. Her parents lost their jobs and even her grandparents, were affected by ramped up racism. They survived on donations, unable to work.

In 1981 - Lee Atwood, advisor to Ronald Reagan and George H W Bush, had this to say of their strategy. (Taken from the book White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo")