Revolutionary War Hero Salem Poor Understood Freedom Isn’t Free

Map of Bunker Hill

Upper Marlboro, MD –-(Ammoland.com)- This week started the series of Black History on the Urban Shooter Podcast.

I plan to start the conversation with a little known African American of the Revolutionary War that was esteemed as “A Brave and Gallant Soldier.

His name is Salem Poor whose character was such from the Battle of Bunker Hill that fourteen officers sent a petition to the Massachusetts legislature declaring that he behaved like an experienced officer, as well as an excellent soldier and added that “a reward was due to so great and distinguished a character.” In this battle, African Americans suffered more than 1,000 casualties. Of the 2,400 to 4,000 colonists who participated in the battle, no other man is singled out in this manner.

Poor was born into slavery c.1740 but he managed to buy his freedom in 1769 for 27 pounds, a year’s salary for the typical working man of the day. He was a married father that left his wife and child behind in May 1775 and fought for the patriotic cause at Bunker Hill, Saratoga, and Monmouth.

Maybe it’s time to emphasize what makes us different, less the color of our skin and more the difference in our character. According to John Adams, the American Revolution occurred in the hearts and minds of the American people years many long before shots were fired at Concord and Lexington. He saw the War for Independence as merely an “effect and a consequence” of the real American [thought] Revolution.

“I have a dream that my four little children will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. ” ~ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

It is our collective character that is failing today. When I think about my time on active duty as a US Marine. My pride came from knowing that the men and women that wore the same uniform were accountable and responsible. It was that character that is missing when people in the cities blame the gun for violence. It is that lack of character that I hear when mayors blame a supposed  gun “show loopholes”. It is socially acceptable to blame everything but the lack of character of men that commit violence against innocent people.

I humbly ask the veterans and patriots among us to continue to stand for what is right so that others will have a standard to see. You won’t see it in politics. You won’t see it in Hollywood. And too many talking heads, don’t respect themselves, their communities, or this Nation to do it.  Freedom isn’t free and it takes men and women of strong character to stand up for it.

“It is not how we look, but how we live that defines us.”

Rev. Kenn Blanchard

New Book on Kindle: The Zen of Gun Ownership

Here’s the latest episode of the Urban Shooter Podcast: https://traffic.libsyn.com/urbanshooter/256_The_Urban_Shooter_Podcast.mp3


About Kenn Blanchard

Kenn Blanchard is a contributor to AmmoLand Shooting Sports News and Producer of the Urban Shooter pod cast. In addition Kenn Blanchard is a pro-gun media producer & marketing professional that helps small businesses by providing information, entertainment , inspiration and support to the sport shooting community through blogs, voice -over, podcasting and professional speaking. Visit: www.kennblanchard.com

Kenn Blanchard
Kenn Blanchard of Black Man with a Gun
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brandon

thank you but i think you need more info