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Due to an accident of history and the common law, slavery was illegal in the British Isles themselves. However, slavery was legal throughout the British Empire. There was no significant movement to abolish slavery in the Empire until decades after American independence. Even then, it was a tough battle as the West Indies sugar plantations produced fabulous profits for Britain and deeply entrenched interests opposed prohibition.

So, preservation of slavery was not and could not have been a motivation for American independence. The entire premise of the 1619 Project is demonstrably false.

Has this alleged journalist even read the Declaration of Independence? Jefferson, a slave owner, included a long list of grievances against the Crown, none of which involve any mention of any threat to the institution of slavery.