The Ghost of Jamestown: How Old Divide-and-Conquer Tactics Keep the Elite in Power

Written By Gamy Zavala Enriquez

Friends,


In 1676, the colony of Virginia witnessed a moment that terrified its ruling class. Black and white indentured servants, alongside enslaved people, united in open rebellion. They weren't fighting for a new social order initially; they were demanding fair treatment and land from the aristocracy. But that brief flicker of cross-racial solidarity sent a shockwave through the planter elite. They saw their power threatened not by external forces, but by the potential for the working class to recognize their shared interests.

The elite's response was not to address the grievances of the laborers, but to drive an insurmountable wedge between them. They began to institutionalize slavery, hardening the racial caste system we still grapple with today. By defining freedom as a white person’s privilege and slavery as the hereditary condition of African ancestry, they effectively dismantled the coalition that threatened their monopoly on wealth and power.

Fast forward to 2026. The faces change, but the playbook remains painfully consistent. Today’s reactionary, fascist, white supremacist leaders and oligarchs rely on the oldest trick in the book: division. Whether through culture wars, scapegoating marginalized communities, or exploiting racial anxieties, the goal is identical to that of the 17th century Virginia aristocracy: prevent the working class from recognizing they are being exploited.

And what do they gain from this strategy? They make out like bandits. While the average American deals with stagnant wages, skyrocketing housing costs, and crumbling infrastructure, the elite see record-breaking profits. They dismantle public services and hoard renewable energy resources, all while distracting the public with fabricated threats.

To defeat this, we must do what the enslaved and indentured servants in 1676 could not: recognize the illusion. We must realize that our struggles are linked, and that the divide-and-conquer tactics of the few are built on the fragile foundation of racial and cultural animosity. It is time to look beyond the rhetoric and build a coalition for collective power.




This is why I ran for Congress in 2026—because I believe in universal economic and political rights for everyone. I am committed to championing cradle-to-grave economic policies, including a Freedom Dividend or universal basic income, funded by billionaires who have long avoided paying their fair share. Economic solidarity is not just an ideal; it is the path forward to a fairer, freer, and more just society. Together, we can build the future we know we deserve—but I can’t do it alone. Join the movement. Subscribe to our newsletter, share our message with friends, and follow us on social media. Now is the time to stand up, organize, and fight for the future we all believe in.




In Solidarity,




Gamy Enriquez, MPA

Volunteer




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Gamy Zavala Enriquez
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