Come All You Brave Soldiers: Blacks in the Revolutionary War - Softcover

Grade 6-10?An interesting and informative survey of African-American participation in the American Revolution. Cox begins his narrative with the Boston Massacre and follows the course of the war through the Battle of Yorktown. While clearly describing the inequities faced by black soldiers, the author also points out that Native Americans, women, and indentured servants were not part of the "all men" who were "created equal." Southern unwillingness to enlist black soldiers for fear of encouraging slave revolts is chronicled. Jefferson and Washington both come in for their share of just criticism, while other leaders who championed the cause of freedom for all are cited for their words and actions. Although Cox incorporates information on individuals, his emphasis is historical rather than biographical. Thomas Fleming's Give Me Liberty (Scholastic, 1971; o.p.) covers some of the same material, but with less detail, fewer names and relevant illustrations, and a generous spattering of fictionalized dialogue. Eugene Winslow's Afro-Americans '76: Black Americans in the Founding of Our Nation (Afro-Am Publishing, 1975) discusses pre-Revolutionary America and the first half of the 19th century and presents a series of brief biographical vignettes linked by short historical overviews. Come All You Brave Soldiers is preferable to either. Black-and-white reproductions of period prints, documents, and paintings are included in two insert sections rather than near their subject matter, but this is a minor flaw in an otherwise superior treatment of an important subject.?Elaine Fort Weischedel, Turner Free Library, Randolph, MA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In a solid, factual chronicle, Cox (Mark Twain, 1995, etc.) retells the story of the American Revolution; he doesn't change or challenge what occurred but includes many of the details most history books have left out. Over 5,000 black men contributed to the country's cause for independence, despite the slavery and racism the land offered them. The broad scope of the work allows for only brief portraits of the brave men who are highlighted, from Crispus Attucks, who was first to die at the Boston Massacre, to Prince Whipple, who accompanied Washington as he crossed the Delaware, to Pompey Lamb, who was instrumental in Mad Anthony Wayne's capture of Stony Point. Cox astutely introduces the hypocrisy of a nation who fights for freedom while enslaving others; he also accurately presents the racial attitudes of the time through documents, letters, and speeches. In addition to paying tribute to some overlooked figures, this book also demonstrates why one historical account is never enough to establish the facts, and the surprises to be found in good research. (b&w photos, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 12-14) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.