March 20, 2025 Story by: Editor
Most narratives about Black history in the United States begin with the arrival of enslaved Africans in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619. This date has become a defining marker in historical discussions, even serving as the inspiration for The New York Times’ controversial 1619 Project, which examines America’s deep-rooted history of slavery.
However, a lesser-known fact is that Jamestown was not the first site where enslaved Africans arrived in America. Nor were they Virginians or under British rule at the time.
In reality, the first group of enslaved Africans to set foot in a permanent colony on the American mainland landed more than 50 years earlier and much farther south. These individuals, Afro-Spaniards, were brought in chains to the eastern coast of present-day Florida, at what is now the oldest city in the U.S.: St. Augustine. Their descendants went on to establish Fort Mose in 1738, recognized as the first free Black settlement in America.
The story begins in 1565 when Spanish conquistador Pedro Menéndez de Avilés led a fleet of approximately 500 settlers to Florida, founding St. Augustine and the Catholic outpost Mission Nombre de Dios. The land had been claimed for Spain as “La Florida” nearly 50 years earlier by Juan Ponce de León, though it lacked significant settlement. Among Avilés’ group were around 50 free and enslaved Africans.
At the time, European powers—Britain, France, Spain, and later the Dutch—were competing for control of the East Coast, with slavery being a common practice among them. However, Spain took an unprecedented approach by leveraging it as a political tool in its territorial disputes.
In 1693, King Charles II of Spain declared “La Florida” a sanctuary for enslaved people fleeing from British-controlled territories, including the Carolina Province, which encompassed present-day Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, the Carolinas, and Tennessee. News of the decree spread as far north as Massachusetts and New York, inspiring many enslaved individuals to seek freedom in Florida. This decision is believed to have influenced at least two major slave uprisings—the 1739 Stono Rebellion in South Carolina and the 1741 New York Conspiracy.
Spain imposed minimal requirements on those seeking refuge: they had to convert to Catholicism and serve in the military for a period.
As a result, St. Augustine’s Black population flourished, prompting Spanish Governor Manuel de Montiano to take further action. In 1738, he ordered the construction of an outpost to be manned by the freed Africans, naming it Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose (“Royal Grace of St. Teresa of Mose”). The name honored Spanish saint Teresa of Ávila and the fort’s moss-covered location just north of St. Augustine.
Pronounced “moh-SAY,” Fort Mose became home to nearly 40 families and was commanded by Francisco Menéndez, a Gambian-born Black militia leader who had previously escaped enslavement in Carolina. A fortified wall surrounded the settlement, serving as protection against potential attacks. The community thrived for nearly two years, welcoming more refugees weekly. A Catholic chapel was also built, reinforcing the fort’s independent identity apart from St. Augustine.
However, this peace was short-lived. Fort Mose became a frontline defense for Spain during conflicts with Britain. In 1740, during the War of Jenkins’ Ear, British Lieutenant General James Oglethorpe launched an assault on Spanish Florida, forcing the residents of Fort Mose to flee to St. Augustine. While a reorganized Spanish force later reclaimed the fort, it was left in ruins.
The fort was rebuilt a decade later under the orders of Governor Fulgencio García de Solís, and St. Augustine’s Black population once again relocated there. Life resumed at the settlement until political shifts resulted in Spain ceding East Florida to Britain in 1763 following the Seven Years’ War. This led to a mass exodus of Fort Mose’s residents to Spanish Cuba. Although Spain briefly regained control in 1784, the fort was ultimately abandoned and destroyed after an American invasion in 1812.
For over 150 years, Fort Mose’s history faded into obscurity. It wasn’t until the civil rights era that Frederick “Jack” Williams, a local historian, pinpointed its possible location and advocated for its excavation in 1968. Nearly two decades later, academic researchers confirmed the site’s significance, leading to the creation of Fort Mose Historic State Park.
In 1994, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and it now attracts thousands of visitors annually. Reenactments of escape stories and battles against British forces help educate the public about Fort Mose’s legacy. Yet, awareness of this historic site remains limited. Since the 1990s, the Fort Mose Historical Society has been campaigning for a full-scale reconstruction of the fort to provide a more immersive educational experience.
That vision became a reality in 2024 when a state-backed fundraising initiative met its goal, allowing officials to break ground on the reconstruction project, which is set to be completed this year.
Despite this progress, misinformation about Black history persists. Even as recently as last year, then-President Joe Biden incorrectly stated during a visit to West Africa that Jamestown was the first arrival point for African Americans. Many historians continue to uphold this version of events, contributing to what some see as a form of cultural erasure.
As efforts to distort Black history grow—particularly in states like Florida—the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States offers an opportunity to correct the record. With Fort Mose’s revival in St. Augustine, attention is finally shifting to where it rightfully belongs.
Source: Boston Globe
