The Black Patriots of the American Revolution

The Atlantic Slave Trade: Empire Built on Human Suffering — Fexingo History · Oct 19, 2026 · 8m · transcript

While history often frames the American Revolution as a war for white liberty, a complex and painful story unfolds involving thousands of African Americans who fought on both sides. This episode explores the lives of figures like Salem Poor, a former enslaved man whose bravery at Bunker Hill earned him a pension, and Crispus Attucks, the first casualty of the Boston Massacre, who became an enduring symbol of resistance. We examine Lord Dunmore's Proclamation of 1775, which promised freedom to enslaved people who joined the British forces, creating a desperate scramble for recruits and…