1989 – U.S. Congress Honors Crispus Attucks

On June 3, 1989, during the bicentennial of the U.S. Congress, lawmakers formally recognized Crispus Attucks, the first person killed in the 1770 Boston Massacre and widely considered the first martyr of the American Revolution. Attucks, of African and Native American descent, symbolized both the complexity of racial identity in colonial America and the deep roots of Black sacrifice in the nation’s founding. The Congressional ceremony included the presentation of a commemorative medal to Attucks’ descendants, acknowledging the long-overdue recognition of his role. This event not only honored Attucks’ heroism but also highlighted the broader historical contributions of African Americans to U.S. independence. It was a rare moment of bipartisan historical reflection on Black patriotism.