The “1619 Project” pushes the narrative that America is an oppressive regime that is all about oppressing Black individuals. Reality, on the other had, demonstrates that rather than being at its core oppressive, America was, is, and always will be a beacon of freedom and liberty for Blacks just as much as for other races. Multiple cases in point:
I'm going to do something crazy and start a Black History month thread about black patriots who loved America and its ideals.
We'll start with Crispus Attucks, who died in the Boston Massacre of 1770. "The first to defy, the first to die." https://t.co/LMoaaznMCF pic.twitter.com/Gf2itcsbXu
— J Michael Waller (@JMichaelWaller) February 1, 2022
2) Salem Poor, a slave who bought his freedom then in 1775 volunteered to fight in a Massachusetts militia. Served at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Shot the enemy officer who killed patriot General Joseph Warren. Served until 1780. https://t.co/IMhg0Dulee pic.twitter.com/6odG7dXxiI
— J Michael Waller (@JMichaelWaller) February 1, 2022
3) Salem Poor fought so heroically that all 14 patriot regimental commanders at Bunker Hill petitioned the Massachusetts General Court to reward him as "a brave and gallant soldier. The reward due to so great and distinguished a character, we submit to the Congress."
— J Michael Waller (@JMichaelWaller) February 1, 2022
4) No other enlisted soldier of the American Revolution received such recognition.
Salem Poor served at Fort George, White Plains, Saratoga, 1776-77; at Valley Forge PA, 1777-78, and elsewhere until 1780.
He died in poverty, 1802, and was buried at Copps Hill Cemetery, Boston.
— J Michael Waller (@JMichaelWaller) February 1, 2022
5) Peter Salem, a slave freed in 1775 when his owner received a military commission. Salem fought at Bunker Hill and is believed to have shot enemy Major John Pitcairn who was demanding the patriots' surrender. He served nearly 5 years in the American Revolution. pic.twitter.com/hHDk45RvUz
— J Michael Waller (@JMichaelWaller) February 2, 2022
6) There has been an attempt since 1984 to build a monument to black patriots who fought for America's independence. Congress authorized it in 1986 but the monument didn't fit the grievance narrative & the $6 million in private funds were never raised. https://t.co/ehhPn3LXHo
— J Michael Waller (@JMichaelWaller) February 2, 2022
7) Halle Berry introduces this 14-minute video about free and enslaved blacks who fought for American independence. One of the most important was a spy, James, who had infiltrated the command of enemy General Cornwallis. https://t.co/g6qmUVJs37
— J Michael Waller (@JMichaelWaller) February 2, 2022
8) At some points in the Revolutionary War, nearly 1 in 5 American soldiers were black men, but you wouldn't know it from traditional histories or 1619 Project fiction. https://t.co/5DA7WOQVLr pic.twitter.com/lPndjxcgP4
— J Michael Waller (@JMichaelWaller) February 2, 2022
How many people have seen this engraving of the first black US senator and congressmen? It's from 1872, the year after the term of Senator Revels (seated at left) expired.
Every one of the lawmakers was a Republican. No Democrat would be elected US senator until 1993. pic.twitter.com/cAWzUl9y6H
— J Michael Waller (@JMichaelWaller) July 6, 2020
How many people have heard of of Hiram Rhodes Revels? He was the first African-American United States Senator, elected from Mississippi in 1870 to finish the term of a secessionist.
He was a Republican, which is probably why few people ever heard of him. https://t.co/F9N09FFkcD pic.twitter.com/QrcBYolgvm
— J Michael Waller (@JMichaelWaller) July 6, 2020
As a preacher, Hiram Revels personally recruited two regiments of southern black men – mainly former slaves – to fight for the Union after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.
— J Michael Waller (@JMichaelWaller) July 6, 2020
No monument exists to memorialize America's first African-American US Senator, Hiram Revels.
We all know why. Senator Revels was a Republican.
Old southern Democrats were Jim Crow types. Today such a statue would undermine the victimization grift industry.
— J Michael Waller (@JMichaelWaller) February 2, 2022
13) Back to the Revo: Washington, a southern slaveholder, had resisted enlistment of blacks in the Continental Army, but pressure from northern colonies, the many blacks who wanted to enlist, and British ops to recruit blacks and treat them equally, caused him to change his mind.
— J Michael Waller (@JMichaelWaller) February 3, 2022
14) “As the General is informed that numbers of free Negroes are desirous of enlisting, he gives leave to the recruiting officers to entertain them, and promises to lay the matter before the Congress, who, he doubts not, will approve of it.” General George Washington, 12/30/1775
— J Michael Waller (@JMichaelWaller) February 3, 2022
15) History: "As the war progressed and the value of black enlistees became more and more apparent … White soldier’s enlistments ran out and many went home. The black enlistee, by high percentages, remained in the army." https://t.co/ShkmBz2cA2 pic.twitter.com/3RqxRcqQNa
— J Michael Waller (@JMichaelWaller) February 3, 2022
16) James Armistead was a Virginia slave. Joined the patriot cause. Posed as a runaway & infiltrated British, who sent him back to spy on Americans. He passed disinformation to British & learned their battle plans which enabled Lafayette at Yorktown. https://t.co/PtxqYzlgv4
— J Michael Waller (@JMichaelWaller) February 3, 2022
17) Prince Whipple was a black slave from New Hampshire who served as a guard to General Washington. Fought at Trenton. He is depicted in the Washington Crossing the Delaware painting, near the bow of the boat, pushing away river ice. He won his freedom. https://t.co/xWzw9HdT8k pic.twitter.com/cIMzvQvlxP
— J Michael Waller (@JMichaelWaller) February 3, 2022
The only way to fight a bad narrative is with the truth.
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