“During the American Revolution, the British offered emancipation to any enslaved person who fought on their side. This military tactic infuriated the Patriots and caused pandemonium on the southern plantations as thousands of slaves escaped and joined the British Army or sought refuge behind enemy lines.” American HistoryBlack HistoryAmerican RevolutionColonial AmericaAmerican Revolutionary War Book:Discovering Black America: From the Age of Exploration to the Twenty-First Century Source: Discovering Black America: From the Age of Exploration to the Twenty-First Century
“Being a spy during the american revolution was arole that a black person was well suited for. as the "invisible race" it was easy for blacks to gain access to information that would help either the Patriots or the Loyalists, because many on both sides did not believe that a black person had the cunning or intellect to be a spy. Black housekeepers, servants, cooks, and maids were often present when valuable information about troop positions, troop movements, and artillery and supply routes were discussed.” American HistoryBlack HistoryAmerican RevolutionAmerican Revolutionary War Author:Linda Tarrant-Reid
“The first newspapers written, edited, and published by African Americans appeared in the northern United States and Canada beginning in the early 1800s. They focused primarily on issues that were important to the black community, including the abolition of slavery and the rights of free blacks. Samuel E. Cornish and John B. Russwurm published the first black-owned and operated newspaper in America for African Americans. Freedom's Journal covered international, national, and regional news and provided its readership with useful information.” American HistoryBlack HistoryAmerican RevolutionAmerican Revolutionary War Book:Discovering Black America: From the Age of Exploration to the Twenty-First Century Source: Discovering Black America: From the Age of Exploration to the Twenty-First Century