James Forten - 0 views

• 
  #1 Chyna Penas on 24 Apr 10

   

  James Forten, who was born to free black parents,Thomas and Sarah Forten on September 2, 1766, became one of America's great civil rights* leaders.
  
  His great-grandfather had been brought to America as a slave, but his grandfather had obtained his freedom. James and his parents had always been free.
  
  He lived during the Revolutionary War. When he was just a fourteen-year-old boy he served in the Continental Army as a powder boy, which was a dangerous job. He was serving on a ship which was captured by an English ship commanded by Sir John Beasley. He became good friends with the captain's son, and they played the game of marbles together. Sir John was so impressed with him he offered to take him back to England with them and provide an education and assist him in entering a profession, but James wanted to stay in America. Sir John's son saved him from being captured and possibly sold as a slave. He later said,"Thus did a game of marbles save me from a life of West Indian servitude*."

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">James Forten, who was born to free black parents,Thomas and Sarah Forten on September 2, 1766, became one of America's great civil rights* leaders. <br /> <br /> His great-grandfather had been brought to America as a slave, but his grandfather had obtained his freedom. James and his parents had always been free. <br /> <br /> He lived during the Revolutionary War. When he was just a fourteen-year-old boy he served in the Continental Army as a powder boy, which was a dangerous job. He was serving on a ship which was captured by an English ship commanded by Sir John Beasley. He became good friends with the captain's son, and they played the game of marbles together. Sir John was so impressed with him he offered to take him back to England with them and provide an education and assist him in entering a profession, but James wanted to stay in America. Sir John's son saved him from being captured and possibly sold as a slave. He later said,"Thus did a game of marbles save me from a life of West Indian servitude*."</div>

  ...

  Cancel

To Top