Stick around. We got a lot more in store. But first it's time for the Way Black History fact, So we have to move on. Today's Way Black History Effect is sponsored by Underground Beach Club From the Streets to the Beach. For the Laiston Beach where visit Underground Beachclub dot com. All right, we're shouting out Vermont. We're shouting out Vermont. We're shouting out Vermont. Please tell me why. Okay, I'll tell you why. Long before Vermont became our fourteenth state,
it's people were known for their independence. They were not excited about joining the new United States, nor did they want to remain part of the British Crown. They liked being independent and made that clear to the other colonies on more than one occasion. Such an opportunity came on July second, seventeen seventy seven, in response to abolitionist calls across the colonies to end slavery, Vermont became the first
colony to ban it outright. Not only did Vermont's legislator legislature agree that to abolish slavery entirely, it also moved to provide full voting rights for African American males On November twenty fifth, eighteen fifty eight, Vermont would again underscore this commitment by ratifying a stronger anti slavery law into its constitution. Now this is a slow story, but they were working on it. Vermonta July second, seventeen seventy seven
action was undoubtedly a historic event. The proclamation underscored the growing discontent many had with slavery and the slave trade, particularly in the colonies of North of the North, where the Quaker led abolitionist movements were taking root. Earlier in seventeen seventy seven, New England area colonies Rhode Island and Connecticut had outward overseas slave im sorry outlawed overseas slave importation,
but still allowed inter colony slave trade. Regardless of the good legal intentions of New England legislators, Black Americans continue to be treated with disdain and cruelty in the North. While Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut abolitionists achieve laudable goals, each state created legal structures making it difficult for free lacks to find work on property or even remain in
the state. Rhode Island, while legally ending slave importation from overseas, continued to have the highest number of slave auctions in the New England States. Additionally, Rhode Island's laws governing the treatment of African Americans free or slave were continually revised and updated and were among the harshest in the colonies. If free blacks associated with slaves, they could both be whipped.
Anyone giving an African American a cup of hard cider was leveled with a level sorry with a heavy fine, whipped or both. Vermont's July seventeen, seventy seven Declaration was not entirely altruistic either. While it did set an independent tone from the Thirteen Colonies, the declarations wording was vague enough to let Vermont's already establish slavery practices continue. Now I want to say this shout out to Vermont for being first. Didn't get it all the way right, but
did something where no other states were doing it. And having been to Vermont being carried on two radio stations in Vermont, I want to take a moment to shout out Wool Vermont WOOL ninety one point five FM and w f VR ninety six point five FM, both of them carrying this show that you're hearing right now. Having been to Vermont. I have seen how the people in Vermont still kind of embody this humanistic approach to politics, human first, love first, empathy first, sort of approach. I
want to I want to share this. I drove through this place and never anywhere else before since have I seen more signs. I know there's not a lot of black people out there, but signs talking about supporting black people, supporting trans people, supporting marginalized people. I couldn't imagine a lot of people like that lived there. But there's a place that is as close to heaven as I've seen in this country. And I call it Vermont, and I have another person who witnessed it alongside me, and so
shout out to Vermont. That's an exact up of becoming a better ally.