One of the most interesting aspects of the American Revolution is the role played by African Americans in the fight for independence. Both free African Americans and those that were enslaved were key in manning state militias and Continental Army units, as well as serving on the high seas in the Navy and on privately armed ships. Indeed, their service to the colonies was crucial in a conflict that lasted nearly seven years. Prohibited from serving in military units and largely considered & “undesirable elements”; how is it that these African American soldiers came to fight for the cause of liberty, even when their own personal liberty was not guaranteed? How and why they enlisted, their interaction with white soldiers, service on the battlefields, how they were perceived by the enemy and the officers under whom they served, and their treatment after the war is examined.
Glenn Knoblock is an independent scholar, the top military contributor to the Harvard/Oxford University Press eight-volume African American National Biography (2008). Author of over 28 books, he documents a wide variety of subjects in New Hampshire and New England history. Mr. Knoblock’s presentation of this lecture is by arrangement with New Hampshire Humanities under that organization’s “Humanities to Go” program.
For the 2026 Lecture Series “The Spirit of 1776: Revolution, Constitution, Independence,” each program begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Shaw Research Library (unless otherwise noted). Reservations for each program are required as seating is limited. If unable to keep a reservation, please call again to release the seat for someone else. Attendance at programs is free for Athenæum Proprietors, Subscribers and Friends. Guests and members of the public are welcome to attend the entire series by becoming a Friend of the Athenæum for as little as $25 per year, payable at the door. Admission to an individual program is $15.
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Proprietors, Subscribers, and Friends may attend this event for free. Membership at the Proprietor and Subscriber levels includes one complimentary spouse/partner guest pass.
Non-Members: $15
Admission to a single event.
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The 2026 lecture series is sponsored by Whole Wealth Management.
