Essential Truths You Must Know and Share

KNOW THESE TRUTHS AND TELL THEM

The United States is, and always has been, a racist nation. Too many of us do not want to hear that, let alone believe it. Here are some truths to support the statement.

Since the early 1600s White Americans have enjoyed legal and social privileges and rights that have been denied to members of various ethnic and minority groups. These privileges include citizenship, criminal procedures, education, immigration, land acquisition, and voting rights.

Since 1619, and before 1865, most African Americans were enslaved. Since then, they have endured severe restrictions on their political, social, and economic freedoms. Native Americans have suffered genocide, forced removal, and massacres, and they continue to face discrimination. Japanese, other Asians, Hispanics, Latinos, Middle Easterners, Pacific Islanders, and lately Somalis have been victims of discrimination. Essentially, anyone who is not White was and still is at risk of being subject to racism is these United States. What follows are just a few highlights of our 406 years of racism.

In 1619 the first twenty Black Africans arrived in Jamestown and were immediately sold as indentured servants.

The Naturalization Act of 1790 said only “free white persons” could be citizens.

In 1830 Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act forcing Native Americans off their lands and onto reservations.

We all know about the Civil War from 1861 to 1865 when over 600,000 people died, and which ended slavery. But that year White Racists formed the Ku Klux Klan – the frightful, terrorizing 160 year old “Invisible Empire” that still operates, though in secrecy now.

Let’s jump to 1890 when U.S. troops massacred 200 Lakota Sioux at Wounded Knee.

And remember 1942 when our U.S. Government forced Japanese American citizens into “relocation camps” and confiscated their possessions and properties.

Today, we are again deporting Latinos (it’s not the first time, but in 2025 we set a record of 2.5 million) and storming Minneapolis in search of Somalis – those folks our leader calls “garbage, who contribute nothing”. Very ugly language, don’t you agree?

We don’t have to be “Ugly Americans”. But we will be until we know these truths, stop lying about them, and decide to finally and emphatically change. Tell everyone you know and tell your Senators and Representatives. Please, let’s start changing today.

Janet Jeffery, Gold Beach (all historical sources available on request)