Artwork courtesy of the Tom Feelings Collection, LLC
Click on the map to learn more about California's hidden history and legacy.
The first elected governor of California, Peter Hardeman Burnett, advocated for the genocide of Native people and tried to ban blacks from the state.
Bridget “Biddy” Mason was brought as a slave to California. She sued for her freedom and her family's and won in what became a landmark court case.
Looking to satisfy demands for cheap household labor, California passed a law that encouraged the kidnapping of Native Children.
"Kill the Indian ... and save the man" was the founding mission of Indian Boarding Schools, a massive government project that warehoused thousands of children in state-run institutions.
The mission of Gold Chains is to uncover the hidden history of slavery in California by lifting up the voices of courageous African American and Native American individuals who challenged their brutal treatment and demanded their civil rights, inspiring us with their ingenuity, resilience, and tenacity. We aim to expose the role of the courts, laws, and the tacit acceptance of white supremacy in sanctioning race-based violence and discrimination that continues into the present day. Through an unflinching examination of our collective past, we invite California to become truly aware and authentically enlightened.