Crispus Attucks, born 1723, was a whaler and stevedore of African and Native American descent. He was among the first casualties at The Boston Massacre on March 5th 1770. As a seminal moment in the lead up to the Declaration of Independence and rebellion against British rule, this was considered by many to be the spark that ignited the American Revolutionary War. Attucks and those who died on this day were the first to give their lives in the cause that would result in the creation of the United States of America. More than 5,000 Black Americans would serve and fight as soldiers in the Continental Army. The site of the Boston Massacre where Attucks was killed is dedicated with a plaque on display at the Boston National Historical Park. In the mid-19th century during the abolitionist movement, Attucks became a cultural icon as an historic figure who gave his life in the founding of a free nation.
https://www.nps.gov/places/boston-massacre-site.htm
The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series celebrates the untold stories of Black American history.
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Illustration by Nate Taylor
Crispus Attucks