Declarations: Black Americans and the Revolutionary War

Overview

250 years ago, when the Declaration of Independence was signed, many of the Founders were themselves slaveholders, yet they proclaimed that “all men are created equal.” As these soaring words of freedom spread across the colonies, Black Americans recognized that the promise of equality included them. *DECLARATIONS: BLACK AMERICANS AND THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR* explores how they fought for those democratic ideals on behalf of themselves, their families, and their communities. Historians and scholars including Leslie Alexander, Danielle Allen, Edward Ayers, Christopher L. Brown, and Woody Holton provide insight throughout the film.