New film salutes Revolution-era patriots of color
The documentary titled “A Fight for Freedom” will premiere October 18 at The Umbrella Arts Center.
“A Fight for Freedom,” a documentary honoring patriots of color in the American Revolutionary War, will premiere October 18 at The Umbrella Arts Center.
The project marks the completion of the MA250 grant awarded to the town of Acton and Concord250 to “help tell these unique stories,” says Joe Palumbo, a member of the town’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission.
The one-hour film honors Black and Indigenous heroes who helped shape America’s fight for liberty, according to Palumbo. It was written and produced through the collaborative efforts of the Town of Acton Visitors Center, Minute Man National Historical Park, and The Robbins House.
“These stories challenge us to rethink the Revolution,” he says. “Through personal stories, expert insights, and powerful visuals, [the film] sheds light on the men and women who risked everything for freedom, and the ways their fight carried forward through abolition and civil rights.”
By the end of the Revolution, nearly 5,500 people of color had served in the Continental Army and local militias, per historical accounts. Among them were Caesar Robbins and Brister Freeman, who lived in Acton. At least 20 of African and Indigenous descent were among the patriots who are said to have battled the British in Acton.
The program is supported by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, MA250, Concord250, Minuteman National Historical Park, The Robbins House, the town of Acton, and The Umbrella Arts Center.
“A Fight for Freedom” will be screened at The Umbrella, 40 Stow Street, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 18. Admission is free.
