Description
Book SynopsisWe commonly think of the American Revolution as simply the war for independence from British colonial rule. This title asks us to rethink what we know about the Revolutionary War, to realize that while white Americans were fighting for their freedom, many black Americans were joining the British imperial forces to gain theirs.
Trade Review"An elegant and passionate writer, Alan Gilbert pulls no punches, and not surprisingly a number of white founders attract his censure." (Historian) "Drawing on first-person accounts and other primary sources, Alan Gilbert tells an often inspiring but ultimately sad story, since American slavery endured and even expanded after the revolution. Still, the personal stories of those who fought on the patriots' side in an all-black regiment and on the loyalist side in exchange for a promise of freedom are fascinating and informative. Gilbert convincingly asserts that their example eventually helped inspire other liberation movements in the Western Hemisphere." (Booklist)"
