Vice President Kamala Harris gave a history lesson for Monday, June 16, telling children that black people have been enslaved in America for 400 years – an overestimation of the actual period of time by more than 150 years.
“I think we all know today is a day to celebrate the principle of freedom,” Harris told a group of about two dozen elementary school children at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. “And think about it in terms of the context of history, knowing that blacks in America have not been free for 400 years of slavery.
“Let this be a day to celebrate the principle of freedom, but to speak about it honestly and accurately, both in the context of history and in the present annex,” Harris continued during his apparently extemporaneous remarks.
The first African slaves in what became American colonies arrived in 1619 in Virginia. Slavery was abolished by the 13th Amendment, which was ratified in 1865 – ending 246 years of practice, not 400.
A White House spokesman acknowledged Harris’ mistake, telling The Post that “the vice president meant 400 years since slavery.”
Vice President Kamala Harris gave a history lesson on Monday, June 10.EPA / Yuri Gripas / POOL Vice President Kamala Harris visits families with families to celebrate June 16 at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Monday, June 20, 2022. AP Photo Patrick Semanski
Harris, the first vice president of partial African descent, also said Uninist, which became a federal holiday last year and has its roots in the Texas Emancipation Day, is an opportunity to reflect on the nature of freedom.
“With the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil War, America really had to ask who was free.” How to define freedom? Freedom in terms of autonomy that one must have? Are we given freedom or are we born with freedom? Harris said.
“I would say that God has given us the right to be free. Your birthright is to have freedom. And then, during slavery, freedom was taken. And we’re not going to celebrate that what God has given us back anyway, are we?
A White House official acknowledged Vice President Kamala Harris’s mistake, telling The Post that “the vice president meant 400 years since slavery began.” AP Photo / Patrick Semansky
“Amen!” said a member of her audience.
“Should we think about that in the current application as well, asking everyone we know who’s free?” Harris continued. “Do we know someone who is not free? Do all people in the world have freedom? Are there those who are without freedom? When we talk about freedom, are we talking about freedom from – or are we talking about freedom?
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