F86.4A

Boston, December 27, 1776
 * AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE WAR?**

In the current year there are a half million african americans in our colonies! In 1639 the colonies passed the first act that excluded african americans from the military service. George Washington at first only wanted free african americans but he changed his mind when he heard that Lord Dunmore started to recruit slaves from the southern states. But how did this all begin?

The British army has brainstormed an idea of giving african americans a deal that they could not refuse. They asked the african americans to serve the king, and in turn they would be freed. Just from hearing this George Washington now has changed the rules of what congress originally said. Now he asks for african americans to join the army to fight for the colonies and not fight for the mother country. The number of african americans has been characterized as 5,000 from all colonies except South Carolina. One british officer said, " Near 500 runaway slaves offered their services to him in one day." If this is true in just one day, how many would offer services in a month? The number of african americans fighting for us is low. Only 5,000 fight for the colonies while there are 20,000 fighting for the mother country. The main question is should we create a better deal for the negros to fight for us, or will we let the mother country have the advantage? If are soldiers are out numbered and are strategies and tactics are not as advanced as England we might lose the war. Also Many african americans must make the hard choice of joining the military or staying on the plantations of which they work on. But many slaves who live close to the coast have an easy advantage to join the british in the war. Reported by: Naomi Castellano

Britain has used our slaves in the past not only to destroy our economic production, yet at the same time equip the amount of military members needed. It is in much dismay to patriot plantation owners. Last year, after November 1775, the British started to recruit slaves into their military. The British first offered freedom to male slaves who would serve the king.Freedom caught the eyes of many slaves. If slaves tried to flee into the British army and were caught by patriots, they would have been hung. Just this year, due to the shortage of volunteers for the patriot militia, General Washington has started to allow slaves to enlist. In South Carolina, where slaves greatly out number whites, they are given freedom in exchange for fighting. Recently, the Continental Congress has offered payment to the patriot slave owners for slaves that will join the militia. In return, they are given freedom. The hope that the war will bring slavery to an end still lingers. The decline in slavery in the north is starting to emerge. Is it a wise choice to include slaves or will it have a lasting effect on the use of slaves in the colonies. Reported by: Dana Cassidy

The african americans are more talented then many suggest. In the war they have been drummers leading the pack powerfully. They have even spyed on the hated British. Other things that they have done include digging ditches, building bridges, and being in the army. Woman are laundresses, cooks, and nurses. Many say that they are different, that they are odd balls. These people say this even though we sat and stared at Lexington and Concord and watched as many were killed. As we sat there, there were nine african americans staring back. About five percent of the soldiers at Bunker Hill, in 1775, where african americans. One person said, " Three times in succesion, (negros), were attacked...by (British), and three times did they successfully repel the assult and...preserve our army from capture." As far as rank the african americans are being noticed as less than equal, even though our Declaration of independence stats that "all men created equal." James Otis reported that "the coloinsts are by the law of nature free born, as indeed all men are, white or black". It looks like african americans are not just african americans. Reported By: Louise Beckstrom

The conclusion is that african americans are strong and do many tasks for us. We might need to convince them to fight for us and not the mother country, after all they live here with us and not the british, so why should they fight for them? The british have stolen our slaves in the past and we need the negroes help to defeat the mother country. We should take advantage of them being able to help us if we want to win this war. How do the loyalists know we won't win if we don't try?