July 4…

African Americans served in the Revolutionary War from its inception, although their stories were frequently overlooked in official accounts. Some were enslaved individuals compelled to work for both British and American forces, while others lived freely within Black communities in port cities and frontier towns. As the conflict intensified, both sides increasingly depended on Black labor and, subsequently, Black soldiers — often under the promise of freedom that was not always fulfilled.

On this 4th of July, we acknowledge their service and thank the following and other African Americans who served our country from the beginning!