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Today I’m remembering the very last people in America to be freed from chattel slavery, who were not the Texans who learned of the Emancipation Proclamation on this day in 1865, but thousands of people in Delaware, Kentucky and New Jersey, who were freed by the 13th six months later.

Gillian Brockell@gillianbrockell.com

Some years ago, I was chatting with a Retropolis reader, a young history student, and I mentioned there were several dozen people enslaved in New Jersey up until the day the 13th Amendment kicked in in December 1865. Y’all. He identified every one of them. njs.libraries.rutgers.edu/index.php/nj...

19/6/26, 5:27 pm870 reposts2.9K likes

Giuliana Perrone

@gperrone.bsky.social

20 June

I have a whole chapter about this in my book. The great surprise to me was that when freedom occurred was actually legally settled in a bunch of suits about contracts for sales and hires of enslaved people.

bjw7.bsky.social

@bjw7.bsky.social

20 June

Props to you Gillian! This is American history!

RegimeHater

@jpuente1860.bsky.social

20 June

Great to see our young people are learning our true history! 👏

ᑎOT Oᑎ ᗰY ᗩᑕᑕOᑌᑎT

@not-on-my-account.bsky.social

Land of the free...

And Rachel. Most enslaved people did not have the opportunity to pull a Rachel, but she sure did, and she went for it. bsky.app/profile/gill...

Gillian Brockell@gillianbrockell.com

As an aside, Rachel is a legend. (From Fischer’s “African Founders”)

Roxanne Darling 🍁

@roxannedarling.bsky.social

20 June

I am always amazed at how few actually expressed the rage they must have felt! Rachel is the badass I hope for.

Gillian Brockell

@gillianbrockell.com

20 June

Guys, chattel slavery is over. Slavery is not over. Prison labor is slavery. If you don’t know the difference, I suggest you find out before attempting a quote dunk on someone who agrees with you. ✌️

colinfrangos.bsky.social

@colinfrangos.bsky.social

20 June

I have heard an account of a southern man who moved to rural California with his slaves and kept them confined and enslaved on his ranch until his death. I always think of them.