A stunning revelation awaits those who believe they know American history: our Revolution both began and ended through the courage of Black Patriots. The first martyr for liberty was Crispus Attucks at the Boston Massacre, while the crucial intelligence that secured victory at Yorktown came from James Armistead Lafayette, America's first double spy.

This eye-opening conversation with author Patrick Poole challenges everything most Americans learned in school. The Revolutionary War wasn't simply fought by "a bunch of rich white guys" – hundreds of Black Patriots served at pivotal battles including Bunker Hill, where commanders formally recognized Salem Poor's exceptional bravery. Prince Estabrook was wounded at Lexington Green during "the shot heard round the world" and continued fighting until the British evacuated New York in 1783. At Valley Forge, when Washington struggled to maintain any army at all, over 50 Black Patriots gave their lives. By the Battle of Monmouth, more than 700 Black soldiers stood in formation.

Perhaps most surprising is the post-Civil War revelation that every Republican Party in Southern states was founded primarily by Black Americans. In Texas, the party began on July 4, 1868, established by 150 Black and 20 white citizens. By 1876, at least a thousand Black elected officials had served across America – facts deliberately buried through racist historical revisionism championed by figures like President Woodrow Wilson.

This historical amnesia has profound consequences. For Black Americans, it robs them of their rightful heritage in building the nation. For all Americans, it creates false narratives that divide rather than unite. As Patrick Poole notes while discussing his book "Black Patriots: Recovering a Lost History of the American Revolution," these stories prove Black Americans "are not strangers here. This is something their ancestors fought and, in many cases, died for."

Discover these forgotten heroes through resources like Biblical Citizenship classes, "American History in Black and White," and Poole's meticulously researched book. The recovery of this shared heritage isn't just historical correction – it's essential for understanding America's true founding and creating a more united future.

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