The first Black Americans were the 20 blacks who arrived at Jamestown, Virginia about the latter end of August in 1619. Surviving evidence indicates that the first Black settlers were not slaves. It appears from the record that they were assigned the same status--indentured servitude--as most of the first White immigrants. At the time of the first detailed census in 1624-25, the 23 Blacks in Virginia--11 males, ten females, and 2 children--constituted some two percent of the total population of 1227. Among the Blacks identified by name were Angelo, Edward, Antonio, Mary and John Pedro.

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