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The first Africans that were brought to America were not slaves. In fact, they were considered more along the lines of indentured servants much like white immigrants who owned no land. The elite class changed African Americans status by separating them from the rest of the population. They implemented policies in order to make it a “black” and “white” issue to lessen the chance of upheaval. In 1619 twenty slaves arrived who had been taught the English language and given Christian names. At this time in the colonies many Europeans died from fever but mostly famine. These Africans worked in the cotton fields along with white indentured servants as equals. One African, Antonio Negro, survived a massacre and went on to own 250 acres of land. He had white indenture