Legacies of Resistance and Resilience: Antebellum Free African Americans and Contemporary Minority Social Control in the Northeast.

This article investigates the enduring influence of antebellum free African-American communities in the Northeastern United States on contemporary racial inequalities in state-sanctioned social control, specifically Black–White arrest rate disparities and Black arrest rates. Using quantitative analysis of historical (1820 Census) and modern data, the study finds that counties with higher concentrations of free African Americans in 1820 exhibit significantly lower racial disparities in arrests and reduced absolute levels of Black social control today. Mediation analyses identify contemporary civil rights infrastructure, Black congregations, and Black political power as key structural safeguards that partially explain these legacy effects. The findings highlight the importance of recognizing not only the oppressive legacies of slavery but also the resilience and institution-building efforts of free Black communities, suggesting that strengthening local civic and religious organizations may be vital for reducing racial inequalities in social control.