On June 17, 1775, during the Battle of Bunker Hill in the American Revolutionary War, Black soldiers such as Peter Salem and Salem Poor fought valiantly against British forces. Salem Poor’s heroism earned him commendation from 14 officers, a rare recognition for any soldier, let alone a Black man in colonial America. These men represented the significant yet often overlooked contributions of African Americans in the fight for American independence. Despite fighting for liberty, many Black soldiers remained enslaved or faced discrimination after the war. Their involvement highlights both the contradictions and the complexities of race and freedom in the founding of the United States.
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