What did freedom mean in a nation built on slavery? In this episode, African Americans and the Struggle for Freedom, we examine how the Revolutionary War opened both opportunities and contradictions. Enslaved people seized moments to escape, enlist, or negotiate their way toward liberty, while free Black communities pushed the ideals of independence to their fullest meaning. Thousands fought on both sides—some promised freedom by the British, others by the Patriots—revealing how central their choices were to the conflict. Yet the Revolution's lofty words often collided with harsh realities, as slavery endured even in the new republic. If you've ever wondered how African Americans shaped, challenged, and lived through the Revolution, this episode tells their powerful and complicated story.