Almost Invisible: Black Patriots of the American Revolution

The first patriot killed in the American Revolution was an African American, Crispus Attucks. Over 5000 African Americans fought in George Washington's Continental Army. Very few black patriot heroes have been identified in American history books. In the southern colonies slaves were not allowed to fight, but an exception was Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, who allowed both African Americans and Native Americans to fight in his militia. In Almost Invisible - Black Patriots of the American Revolution, Kate Salley Palmer writes about 25 African Americans who helped the colonies gain independence from Great Britain. Kate did the vivid illustrations for the book in watercolor and gouache.