Includes index.

I. Homage to liberty -- II. Preludes to the Declaration: Crispus Attucks and the Boston Massacre -- Aftermath of Attucks: portraits in petitions -- The shot heard round the world: Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, and the Great Bridge -- The Declaration of Independence -- III. Bearers of arms: patriot and tory: A trio with the generals: William Lee, James Armistead Lafayette, Agrippa Hull -- A muster of brave soldiers and sailors -- Three black units -- In the service of the king -- IV. The black clergy: Founders of the African Baptist Church: David George, George Liele, Andrew Bryan -- Founders of the African Methodist Church: Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, Peter Williams -- Three black ministers: John Marrant, John Chavis, Lemuel Haynes -- V. The emergence of gifts and powers: Benjamin Banneker -- Captain Paul Cuffe -- Jean Baptiste Point du Sable -- Dick Pointer: he saved the fort -- Dr. James Derham and Thomas Fuller -- Phillis Wheatley -- Jupiter Hammon -- Wentworth Cheswill of Newmarket, New Hampshire -- Prince Hall: organizer -- Olaudah Equiano: the image of Africa -- The burgeoning of art and craft -- VI. Against the odds: Lucy Terry Prince: Vermont poet and advocate -- Alice: pioneer of Philadelphia -- Belinda of Boston: "marked with the furrows of time" -- Elizabeth Freeman and the Bill of Rights -- Felix Cuff: Massachusetts maroon -- Primus Hall: soldier and citizen -- Yarrow Mamout: Maryland muslim -- Venture Smith: colonial John Henry -- Moses Sash: "a captain & one of Shaises Councill" -- Amos and Violate Fortune: first citizens of New Hampshire -- Three Concord blacks: John Jack, Brister Freeman, Casey Whitney -- VII. The incomplete revolution.