The first slaves in the territory that we now regard as the United States were not brought to Virginia in 1619. That happened 54 years earlier, when our nation’s oldest European-founded City, St. Augustine, Fla., was founded by Spain’s Pedro Menéndez de Avilés on September 8, 1565. Menéndez’s contract with King Phillip afforded him three years to import 500 African slaves.
Judith Seraphin
St. Augustine, Fla., e-mail
In secret, behind locked gates, the former City Manager of our Nation's Oldest City dumped solid waste in our Old City Reservoir. He emitted raw sewage in our San Sebastian River. Citizens exposed environmental racism and pollution. Our new leaders now listen. We're transforming our City. This is advanced citizenship. Please continue to ask questions and make disclosures. Demand answers. Expect democracy. Help us achieve a St. Augustine National Park and Seashore.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Judith Seraphin's letter in Sunday's New York Times Magazine (April 17, 2011)
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