The first record of what can be recognized as racialized slavery doesn’t appear until 1640, when three indentured laborers from Virginia—two white and one Black—ran away from their place of work. After they were captured, the colony’s highest court sentenced the two Europeans to four additional years of servitude. In contrast, the unfortunate African American—whose name was John Punch—was condemned to “serve his said master or his assigns for the time of his natural Life here or elsewhere.” Still, at the time, John Punch was very much an exception to the rule.
