Existing comment:
William L. Champney
Boston Massacre, March 5th, 1770, 1856
In the 1850s, Boston abolitionists repurposed Paul Revere's image of the Boston Massacre for their antislavery campaign. They created large format prints such as this one highlighting Crispus Attacks as the first fatality of the American Revolution.
The prints reminded Bostonians that people of color had served the country from the start -- and deserved to be full citizens. By 1858, the city of Boston established Crispus Attacks Day to commemorate the patriot's death. |