(uptempo music
- [Narrator] For most of American history,
marriage between races was against the law.
(gentle music)
However, in the 17th century in colonial Virginia,
Africans and English could be
allies, lovers, parents, and married.
That is, until the Virginia Legislature convened in 1705.
- [Man] Order!
There will be order in the House of Burgesses
Order in the house.
- [Man] We land owning gentlemen of the crown
cannot afford another rebellion.
- [Man] We must divide the poor.
- [Man] We must separate the races.
- [Man] Separate the races.
- [Man] African, English, Scotch, Irish, Indian.
- [Man] We must break the alliance between the poor.
- [Man] Break the alliance.
- [Man] All in favor?
- [Group] Aye.
- [Man] All opposing?
The measure passes.
(somber music)
- [Man] We are no longer allowed.
- [Woman] To marry?
- [Man] We are no longer allowed.
- [Woman] To start a family.
- [Couple] We are no longer allowed.
- [Man] Can we say aloud?
- [Woman] Should we stay inside?
- [Man] That we have a child.
- [Woman] Can we stay alive?
- [Man] We not coming out.
- [Woman] Why are we vilified?
- [Man] Let's go underground.
- [Group] We are no longer allowed.
- [Couple] To carry a child.
- [Group] We are no longer allowed.
- [Couple] To exchange vows.
- [Group] We are no longer allowed.
- [Man] I am her father.
- [Woman] Are you all right?
- [Man] And you are my wife.
- [Woman] This isn't right.
- [Man] They're not taking our daughter.
- [Woman] Let them try.
- [Man] That's on my life.
Be it enacted.
- [Woman] Be it enacted.
- [Man] No negro.
- [Woman] No negro.
- [Man] No mulatto.
- [Woman] No mulatto.
- [Man] No Indian.
- [Woman] No Indian.
- [Couple] Be it enacted.
- [Man] Be it enacted. - [Woman] Be it enacted.
- [Man] Be it enacted.
Be it enacted, be it enacted.
- [Woman] Be it enacted.
- [Man] That no minister.
- [Woman] Be it enacted.
- Who's there? - should hereafter marry
a White.
- [Woman] Be it enacted. - [Man] No, no, no, no, no.
- [Woman] No, I won't let them do this. - [Man] I have to go.
- [Woman] Shall hereafter marry a white - [Man] I have to.
with a Negro, or Mulatto, or Indian.
- [Man] Be it enacted, all Negro, Mulatto and Indian slaves,
- [Woman] Be it enacted.
- [Woman] That all children, - [Man] shall be held as property.
- [Woman] of Negroes, of Mulattos,
- [Man] I will be held as property
- [Woman] of slaves, will be slaves.
- [Man] until the day I die.
- [Man] Be it enacted. - [Woman] Be it enacted.
- [Woman] If any master kills a slave,
that master shall be free of all punishment
as if such an accident never happened.
- [Man] Be it enacted. - [Woman] Be it enacted.
- [Man] When a Negro runs away-- - [Woman] My children
- [Woman] will be forbidden to read,
- [Man] It shall be lawful-- - [Woman] to write, to vote, to marry.
- [Man] to dismember, to kill.
- [Woman] to testify. - [Man] and destroy.
- [Couple] Be it enacted.
- [Woman] My child will be bought and sold.
- [Man] It shall be lawful
- [Woman] Be it enacted, my child will labor until death
because of the color of her skin!
- [Man] to dismember, to kill--
- [Woman] Be it enacted. - [Man] and destroy.
- [Woman] My husband will be whipped, branded, maimed.
Be it enacted, be it enacted.
Be it enacted, that it shall be lawful.
It shall be lawful.
It shall be lawful
to fix a perpetual brand.
To fix a perpetual brand.
To fix a perpetual brand
upon Negroes, Mulattoes, and Indians.
Upon us.
- [Man] Be it enacted, no Negro, no Mulatto, no Indian.
Probably a price you could set.
Be it enacted, no Negro, no Mulatto, no Indian.
- Of his Lordship-- - Be it enacted.
No Negro, no Mulatto, no Indian.
- [Man] In the Houses of Assembly.
- [Man] Be it enacted.
- [Man] No Negro, no Mulatto.
- And by the authority of the State,
no Negro...
(somber music)
- This unfortunate difference of color,
and perhaps, of faculty
is a powerful obstacle
to the emancipation of these people.
♪ To be, to be, to be, to be, to be. ♪