Black History: Special Delivery!!
Book of Negroes
The Book of Negroes: A Record of Enslaved Blacks Who Fought For The British During the American Revolutionary War In Exchange For Freedom
The Book of Negroes chronicles over 3,000 enslaved African Americans who fought for the British during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). The liberation of American colonies from British rule was the goal of the war. For the chance at freedom, enslaved blacks took up arms against the American colonies. They knew that American independence and freedom from British rule, would not result in them being freed from slavery.
For their loyalty to the British, more than 3,000 enslaved and free black people were relocated to Nova Scotia, Canada. They would become the first settlement of Black Canadians. The presence of this document reflects the inherent contradiction of the American colonies quest for freedom and independence; the contradiction being that the newly forming America would deny enslaved blacks the same rights that it sought for itself.
The possibility of freedom offered by The British to those who survived the war was a powerful recruitment tool. Ironically blacks who were free were more likely to support the American Patriots rather than the British. Their support was based largely on the promise of land. Nearly 1/3 of the newly re-settled blacks who went to Nova Scotia would resettle again on the continent of African in Sierra Leone.
In 2007, Lawrence Hall published a work of fiction, “The Book of Negroes” based on the quest of enslaved Africans who sought to gain their freedom by fighting for the British. In February 2015, BET aired a 6 part miniseries based on the book.
**********
Did you miss yesterday’s post? Click here to view a powerful quote from James Baldwin
December 19, 2015 at 10:43 am
Great Post
December 19, 2015 at 10:55 am
Thank you!
December 19, 2015 at 10:57 am
welcome. The English have always had this dubious record. They screamed of oppression by the Germans and did exactly the same if not worse across the world in the colonies.
December 19, 2015 at 11:04 am
Yes. History is often distorted by the oppressor.
“Until the lion has their own historian, the hunt will always glorify the hunter. -Chinua Achebe
December 19, 2015 at 11:05 am
well said
December 20, 2020 at 2:14 am
Powerful history still untold and untaught. Definitely absent from conversation or questions! It is that which is strategically hidden from common knowledge that perpetuates the legacy of supremacy and the myth of an historic fight for the rights of others. In truth, these were unbridled rights to abuse, misuse and misguide people for self gain.