Black Heroes of the American Revolution

by Burke Davis

Crispus Attucks is known as the escaped slave whose freedom ended when he died in the Boston Massacre, but there are many other lesser-known black men and women who made enormous contributions to U.S. independence. Readers will discover Edward Hector, the brave wagoner of Brandywine; artilleryman and slave Austin Dabney; William Lee, the aide and closest companion of George Washington throughout the war; and many others.

     Includes a bibliography, a foreword by Senator Edward W. Brooke, and an index.

Genres: History, American History, Nonfiction, African American, War, Biography, American Revolution

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Audra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always known that my people have contributed way more to this country's founding than history wishes to admit. This book, though short, gives a very good idea of the THOUSANDS of enslaved Africans who fought for a country that gave them no rights. Whether it was Crispus Attucks, whose actions ignited the revolution, or the many enslaved who served as spies and delivered information back to American troops that helped with the war, or the thousands who dug ditches and built roadways for companies to advance, this country's founding and its success, even to this day, is owed to Africans and Black Americans.

So many names of black people who were instrumental in the American Revolution are listed, and homage paid to the many more whose service went undocumented.

A great and somber read.

[Ammie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The content is good and important, but it was a dry read. We are also reading "Answering the Cry for Freedom" by Gretchen Woelfle and though the chapters are longer, they are far more engaging.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, read with my son for our history lessons. It was interesting for me since most of what I remember learning about re the Revolutionary War is related to white people fighting for freedom...and there is such a bigger story that needs to be shared. This is a good read for elementary age kids.

[Grace Markey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chock full of rich history and of lesser known important black people who made significant contributions in the Revolutionary war. My only complaint is the writing presentation is a bit dry and my kids found it hard to pay attention to.

[Bella Rowell · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was one of the better books I've read for school.

[Holly]

This book was recommended in E.D. Hirsch's Core Curriculum series. As such, I was excited to read about the role that these individuals had played in the freeing of our country. Unfortunately, the book did not live up to my expectations primarily because he failed to provide an in depth story on many of the heroes in the book.

The first two chapters provided a number of short vignettes that failed to go into any great depth on any one individual. However, by the third chapter, "Two Famous Patriots," the stories became more in depth discussing the persons, their background, and their specific contribution to the war effort. In fact, I was particularly interested in the story of Crispus Attucks, who died, essentially antagonizing the British.

Davis also wrote a chapter on James Armistead (later Lafayette), who was a spy for the patriots. Ironically, he was asked by the British to spy on the Patriots!

Historically, the most interesting note was that many of the persons volunteered to serve the movement despite not being promised their own freedom. Though, many did eventually earn freedom for themselves or their families, it was only in the Rhode Island regiment were these soldiers could volunteer to serve in exchange for their freedom.

Of course, perhaps, I'm being too hard on Davis. Soldiers, regardless of race, have fought in a multitude of wars. Many we know little to nothing about besides names, ranks, birth date and date of death. I suspect that it was difficult for Davis to turn up significant information about a class of people who, at the time, was so undervalued in the cause of freedom.

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was an independent reader that I buddy-read along with my 11yo.

It was a bit dry, although the information itself was excellent and well-researched. I love the fact that so many “nameless” heroes are remembered in one volume. Sadly, many are names we’ve never heard of. I’m glad we included this in our reading this year, I just wish it was a little more engaging.

[Charity · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little book, published the year I was born (probably more to celebrate the bicentennial, though), contains a surprising amount of information about the role that Black soldiers, sailors, and spies played during the American Revolution. I'm disturbed---but not surprised---by how some (not all) were given the chance to "win" their freedom by laying down their lives for their country, freedom that any white person had just by virtue of being born. And even those who were already free before they volunteered to fight had to fight after the war for the pensions and recognition due them by the country they had served. I feel compelled to learn as much of the full story of my country of birth as possible, but it is exhausting to be so disappointed so much of the time. At least my children are learning it from the start so it's woven into their view of the US. Maybe they'll be spared the feeling of shock and betrayal I feel at being fed such a sugar-coated patriotism growing up and can focus their energies on reconciling our country's hypocrisies and building a truly egalitarian society.

[Gofita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about black heroes of the American Revolution. Crispus Attucks and James Lafayette really stand out. Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote almost a century after the Revolution that "We are to reflect upon the mas far more magnanimous...[inasmuch as they served] a nation which did not acknowledge them as citizens and equals, and in whose interests and prosperity they had less at stake. It was not for their own land they fought, not even for a land which had adopted them, but for a land which had enslaved them, and whose laws, even in freedom, oftener oppressed than protected. Bravery, under such circumstances, has a peculiar beauty and merit." Amen.

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silas and I read this book together as part of our homeschool history curriculum. The final quote of the book kind of sums it all up for us. “ . . . It was not for their own land they fought, not even for land which had adopted them, but for a land which had enslaved them, and whose laws, even in freedom, oftener oppressed than protected. Bravery under such circumstances, has a peculiar beauty and merit.” —Harriet Beecher Stowe

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye-opening. Quick summaries of what we know from surviving documents, but what made me sad is how much we don't know because the men who wrote down and preserved historical documents didn't think the contribution of people of darker skin was worth noting. Possibly because they were willingly ignorant and dismissive of it themselves.

So glad this is part of our children's home library.

[Abby (Reader of Clean Books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5✨

I was bored the whole time I was reading it. If you asked me what I most remember from the book, I couldn't tell you. I didn't get anything out of reading this. I'm pretty sure the reason I didn't like it was the writing style, because the stories inside this book were probably interesting but I just couldn't tell because of the writing style.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 was because most of the writing is very matter-of-fact. The bit about Crispus Attucs was very engaging, I wish the other biographies had been as vivid. But these are very important stories and I'll be sharing this with my kids for sure.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Used during homeschool history, and the majority of these individual stories were unknown to me. Prompted a lot of discussion around the (forgotten) roles of Black soldiers during the Revolutionary War, and how important they were.

[Sarah Huebner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read! Has a looooot of information - it could be overwhelming for young readers.

Of course, it is also a military focused book, so there is mention of violence, and once suicide is mentioned (King Henri Christophe).

Overall worth the read!

[Mallory Hargett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for younger/older students.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew? So thankful for having read this book for history with B.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book, and an important topic But the writing fell flat. I'm glad we read it, but it's not a top recommendation.

Read it aloud for our history curriculum.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy, kid-friendly but super informative read. Helpful pictures in the middle.

[Marleah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great true stories of some of the little known heroes of the Am. Revolution.

[Lilzzz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great!🤩

I learned a lot, and now that I'm done with it, I can use the info to finish writing my history essay! :)

[Travelmaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Variety of people highlighted, with information about what they did/where/when. Good book to donate to a classroom or little library.

[Elsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Black Heroes gives credit to overlooked soldiers. I am not a military history lover, and this did little to change my mind. Its inclusion still makes sense within our homeschool curriculum.

[Beth Lorow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative read aloud with my 11-year-old as we seek to understand American history from various perspectives.

[Sarah Mahieu · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 There is a lot of really great information in this book, and I am glad I read it. However, the layout of the book made it difficult to read at times and hard to keep my attention, even though there are many great stories within its pages.

[Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

black heroes are about heroes that did something for our nation and our states i learned about Thomas jefferson and samuel adams were one of them that helped this mnation

[Deron Breeze]

Davis, B. (1991). Black Heroes of the American Revolution. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich

By: Deron Breeze

Reference Type: Biographical Reference

Call Number: REF 973.3 DAV

Description: Biographical Reference of lesser known black men and women who made gigantic contribution to U.S. independence.

Relevance and Relationship: This source is relevant for students at this elementary school with a high African-American population to learn about how individuals from their ethnic group helped shape the landform of American Independence.

Purpose: These comprehensive studies attest to African American contributions in significant areas of our country's development.

Validity: Foreword is written be Senator Edward Brooke and this book is in libraries all across the nation. It is portrayed as a first hand account of the black soldiers, sailors, spies, scouts, guides, and wagoners.

Format: Print, 182 pages in chapter format.

Arrangement and Presentation: Foreword is at the beginning along with a bibliography. The chapters are arranged in showing accounts from different roles of the black soldiers, sailors, spies, scouts, guides, and wagoners.

Diversity: Resource for all students to be able to learn about the different roles of individuals that helped shape our countries independence. Many of those roles are left untold.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really wonderful little book, appropriate for kids up to 5th grade. The stories within really need to be taught and Davis makes the lives of the black patriots very interesting. Even without political power, blacks made a difference in the founding of our country.

[Rori Christina Simmons]

It was an inspiring book!! It made me wake up to what is happening around us in America.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome, heartbreaking and inspiring true stories of the actions, heroism, and import of the African American soldiers and spies who fought during the American Revolution. Not to be missed.