for Racists Everywhere: "The first man to die for the flag we hold high"

[Bluerthanblue]

(Crispus Attucks) was a black man."
the first line to Stevie Wonders song "Black Man"

I couldn't let this be stuck somewhere deep in the 'freeper racism' thread- It is too important- and something so few people actually know
or care about-

My 12yr old is doing a report- and he is teaching alot of folks who never 'knew' how deep rooted, and profound the struggle to be treated with equality ran, and STILL runs in this country, for so many people.

How ironic, that the first martyr of the war for Independence was a black man- a fugitive slave, who tried to purchase his own freedom from his master, but was not allowed to do so.

This country wasn't won by the sweat of 'rich CEOs' But by the toil, blood, tears and sacrifice of the average 'man'- and the faith and unquenchable desire for equality against all odds by the oppressed, including those who were not 'free' even as they fought for freedom.
By those who were used, hated, and denied rights by the same nation they fought to create.

Those who claim otherwise, need to learn their history-
and start rolling the pastry for their crow filled pies.

For more information on Mr. Atticus here is a good link:

http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Crispus+Attucks

For the rest of Stevie's lyrics to this awesome song go here:
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/s/stevie-wonder/131903.html

[jody]

1. I believe Attucks' father was African and mother Nantucket Indian.

On edit add:
"Recent evidence suggests that Crispus Attucks was not literally the first man to be killed, but that he was struck by a bullet deflected from another person."

[stlsaxman]

2. Attucks was one of the 4 who died at the Boston Massacre, no?

Not sure he was the first to die, but certainly ONE of the first to die in the Revolutionary War. I may be wrong about the number but I always thought it was 4....

Anyone?

on edit: okay- 5, I knew it was something like that....

ps- that's the same picture of the event we had in our gradeschool history books... "engraved by Paul Revere"... how cool is THAT!

[Bluerthanblue]

3. While history tries to downplay his role

Crispus was indeed a 'hero'-

"Crispus Attucks, one of the first men to die for American freedom, was a fugitive slave who had escaped from his master and had worked for twenty years as a merchant seaman. When Samuel Adams, prominent leader of the struggle against British domination of the American colonies, called upon the dock workers and seamen in the port of Boston to demonstrate against the British troops guarding the customs commissioners, Crispus Attucks responded to the plea. Aroused by Adams' exhortations, a group of 40 to 50 patriots, armed with clubs, sticks and snowballs, approached the British soldiers. Attucks was apparently in the front of the line of the aroused citizens, urging them on. Suddenly there was a terse order--"Fire!" The British troops responded with a barrage of rifle fire.

Crispus Attucks was the first to fall in the celebrated "Boston Massacre" of 1770. Four other Americans died that night from the action. Samuel Adams used the incident to incite the colonists to further rebellion. Although only five people were killed, Adams termed it a "massacre" of innocent citizens by the tyrannical mother country. Paul Revere published a poem and a drawing of this famous incident in the Boston Gazette on March 12, 1770.

more at "The Boston Massacre Historical Society".

http://www.bostonmassacre.net/players/crispus-attucks.htm

He is buried in the Granary Cemetary along with the others who 'fell'- which was something unheard of at the time- Blacks exp. a black/native american man were not allowed to be buried among 'whites'.

The funeral procession for these men, was the largest ever known in Bostons history-

[cantstandbush]

4. good information for people to know. n/t

[Ladyhawk]

5. Racism runs deep in this country.

I sometimes wonder if we'll ever get rid of it entirely. My grandparents transferred their racism to my parents; my parents transferred their feelings to me. Racism is being driven underground to a large extent, but is it really lessening? I know that although I struggle against prejudice, it is still buried in my subconscious. If I could, I'd dig it out with an ice pick.

Maybe time will eventually heal all the wounds the white people in this country afflicted on African Americans, Native Americans and others whose skin wasn't the right color. Sometimes I feel ashamed to be white.