Imagine you’re from one of the great West African empires: the Yoruba, whose intricate political systems rivaled those of European nations; the Asante, whose formidable military power was matched only by their control of the lucrative gold trade; or the Mandinka, who amassed vast wealth through their vital trade routes. But now, torn from your homeland, your people are slaves in America. Then, Britain offers you freedom if you fight with them. What would you decide? The free room and board is nice but then there are the beatings to consider… so, it’s either “Sunshine or Shackles?”
The British were badly outnumbered at the start of the Revolution in the late 1770s. In desperation, they promised freedom to any slave belonging to a rebel owner. Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation (1775) and the Philipsburg Proclamation (1779) offered freedom to any enslaved person who reached British lines, whether or not they fought. Historians estimate thousands of enslaved people formed Black regiments such as the Royal Ethiopians, Colonel Tye’s Black Brigade, and the Loyal Refugee Volunteers. They are called “Black Loyalists”, because they sided with the British monarchy. Historian Dr. John Burton observed, “…the British policy was rather cynical since, like Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation 84 years later, it only offered freedom to slaves owned by rebels: those belonging to loyalists would not be freed.” Author Lloyd Dobyns wrote, “Blacks who answered Dunmore’s call endured hunger, disease, and bombardment. Eight times as many died of sickness as did of battle wounds.”
England, despite the stipulations of the Treaty of Paris, refused to return the Black Loyalists. Honoring their commitment to protect those who had fought for the British flag, commanders relocated them to safe British-controlled land. Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia wrote, “Between 3000 and 3500 Black Loyalists arrived in Nova Scotia… the largest settlement of free Blacks in the world outside of Africa.” Some of the refugees went to Britain and eventually to Sierra Leone. For some it was “Sunshine over Shackles” after all!
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