Behold The Laws
I am John Talbot, founder and lead researcher of Behold The Laws.
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Understanding the history of American Chattel Slavery and its lasting effects on American society is vital in moving America forward. I have chosen to teach about this dark period of American history by presenting various areas of statute law locked away in each state's legislative history. This methodology relies heavily upon Primary Source documentation from the legislatures of 22 States and Territories across 203 years of American history.
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My goal in highlighting these key areas in American history is to directly counter over a century of misinformation, half-truths, whitewashing, and obfuscation that have only served to hold America back from truly progressing as a nation.
I have compiled laws on the following topics:
Race & American Chattel Slavery
The creation of the concept of "Race" was guided through law.
Gun Control
Disarmament through legislation was crucial for keeping the enslaved in bondage and unable to resist.
Police & Law Enforcement
Modern American Policing has its roots in the maintenance of the American Slave System.
Education
Enslaving the body as well as the mind was critical to maintaining a system of oppression.
Religious Freedom
The enslaved Black Christians were persecuted by law for their faith.
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Our logo was inspired by the story of an enslaved man named Sam. He was the first enslaved person to plan an insurrection in the American Colonies and was forced to wear the Iron Collar, a torture device designed to prevent escape, for the rest of his life.
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@BeholdTheLaws Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok social media pages are where most of our content will be featured.
This website hosts all of the laws my research has documented, with their primary sources included for further study.