Black Americans Torn on Celebrating Fourth of July

Peter Salem and his contributions during the Revolutionary war are often forgotten in history classes. Photo

Not every white person was or is a patriot. Many of these cowards sent my enslaved ancestors to fight in the American Revolutionary War on their behalf and promised to set them free from bondage if they survived, which turned out to be a lie. In the modern day, they disguise themselves as red-blooded Americans who love the country so much, they are cool with voting for a person who is cutting Medicaid, removing the names of historic Americans from military ships and museums because of their race or sexual orientation and who is a 34-times convicted felon that despises any objective media outlets.

With that in mind, there are legitimate reasons why Black Americans are not really in the mood for celebrating this July 4th. There is uncertainty in the nation. Black people are still being treated like second-class citizens, or not even citizens at all for that matter. Our people are still being shot by law enforcement officers for no legitimate reason like the cases of Rashaud Johnson and Kilyn Lewis in Aurora, Colorado. In the meantime, we are seeing longtime gangsters from our community like Larry Hoover being given presidential pardons, and rap mogul Sean Combs, who is seen on video beating up his girlfriend and who had multiple people testify against him in court of being a menace and terror, getting more chances at freedom.    

One of the ironies of the American Revolutionary War is that Black people hedged their bets, fighting for BOTH the British and Americans with both sides promising they would free Black people who fought in the war and survived. The Colonists lied to my ancestors outright, putting most of them back into servitude when the war ended. The British didn't necessarily lie, but didn't tell the truth either. While not putting them back into slavery, they moved them to Canada and other British territories where they were technically free, but discriminated against so heavily, they were unable to live out the rest of their lives as full citizens.

Black Loyalists like Titus Cornelius fought with Britian in the Revolutionary War prompted by the promise of living as free men and women.

Black Loyalists (slaves in the colonies who became British soldiers) terrorized white colonists. Imagine the person you had enslaved showing up at your doorstep with a gun, machete and long memory. Colonel Titus Cornelius joined the British forces after his Quaker slave owner lied about setting him free. Big mistake, Brotha Tye went to work killing folks and burning down their houses and stealing all their valuables. Due to General George Washington’s racism that wouldn’t allow Blacks to serve in the Continental Army until late in the battles, my ancestors went to the other side and at one point in the war, outnumbered Blacks serving under Washington four to one.  

Peter Salem was a Black Patriot who at the battle of Bunker Hill became famous for putting a bullet through the head of a British major. Pete stayed in the war until the end and was able to get married and live out the rest of his life in peace as a freeman until he died at the age of 65. Salem’s accomplishments are rarely mentioned in history classes or depicted in paintings of the time period. There is a monument erected in his honor where he is buried in Framingham, Massachusetts. He was also given an honorable discharge from the military. He was one of the lucky ones.

Crispus Attucks, a runaway slave was the first person to die at the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770.

Crispus Attucks took two shots to the chest during the Boston Massacre, which popped off the fighting. The man was a whale harpooner for God's sake, a runaway slave, and still was on the front lines during the fight, attacking armed British soldiers with nothing but a club. This despite knowing that if he had survived, there was a good chance he would have been thrown back into slavery.

Then there is James Armistead Lafayette, who served as a double agent in the war. The information he was able to secretly obtain from the British and handover to Washington’s troops proved to be the difference in the deciding battle of the war at Yorktown, according to historians. The spy informed General Marquis de Lafayette and Washington about approaching British reinforcements, which allowed the generals to devise a blockade impeding enemy advancements. This success resulted in the final major victory for the colonists when Lord Cornwallis surrendered on October 17, 1781.

Though Americans celebrated freedom throughout the United States at the end of the war, James Armistead initially returned to life as a slave. His status as a spy meant that he did not benefit from the Act of 1783, which emancipated any slave-soldiers that fought for the Revolution. He had to get General Lafayette, to write a special letter to congress before he was eventually given his freedom and allowed to live out the rest of his life in peace.

Members of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment played a pivotal role in the war. Their acts of bravery have been documented by historians.

The American Revolutionary War would never have been won without the contributions of Native Americans and Black people. This is an indisputable fact that is not taught in American schools.

Learning about more of these contributions could serve as an inspiration for Black people not feeling the July 4th holiday, to perhaps reconsider or do as I do. I personally celebrate in my own way, starting with reading a book or watching a historical film that depicts my ancestors in a turthful way. This year I chose to watch Black Patriots: Heroes of the Revolution, narrarated by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on Amazon Prime. Secondly, I hang with family and friends in fellowship before shooting off fireworks for some fun to honor the ancestors who paid the ultimate price to build this country, but who don’t get the credit they deserve. I refuse to allow this president and his acolytes to deprive me of my rights as a citizen or disrespect my ancestor’s history.  My ancestors fought and died in every conflict or war the United States has ever been in and we are here whether some people like it or not. Taking their resolve and incorporating it into my life is how I honor them and celebrate the Fourth of July.

 NOTE: Illustrations in this article provided by Black Patriots: Heroes of the Revolution.