News 1619: 400 years ago, a ship arrived in Virginia, bearing human cargo February 8, 2019February 8, 2019E.R. Shipp, Special to USA TODAYComments Off on 1619: 400 years ago, a ship arrived in Virginia, bearing human cargo The arrival of 20 and odd enslaved Africans in 1619 has been called the beginning of U.S. slavery. It's actually far more complicated than that.