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A review by imperfectcj
Black Heroes of the American Revolution by Burke Davis
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
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. 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 instead on reconciling our country's hypocrisies and building a truly egalitarian society.
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 instead on reconciling our country's hypocrisies and building a truly egalitarian society.