Military Patriot Eli Burdoo - explore the often overlooked role of Black men and women, like third generation Lexington resident Eli Burdoo, played in the Revolutionary War. Eli Burdoo was an active combatant on April 19, 1775.
A compelling story of a grandson of Ann and Philip Burdoo who were married in Medford, MA in 1704 and afterwards purchased 40 acres of land in Cambridge Farms. Eli Burdoo's mother Phebe died before he was two years old and his father Moses was a veteran of the French and Indian War. Explore Eli's journey from indentured orphan at 5 years old to member of Captain Parker's Lexington Militia by 19 years old.
A free event.
Presenters: Dr. Zine Magubane, PhD, Boston College historical sociology professor, Emmett Bell-Sykes, historical reenactor who has portrayed Moses Burdoo and Sean D. Osborne, public historian and producer of the Black Patriots of Lexington YouTube series.
For more information on the Black Patriots of Lexington video series visit www.abclex.org.
Hosted by the West Medford Community Center with support from the Association of Black Citizens of Lexington and Tricons 2 Red Tails.
BACKGROUND
ABCL’s Black Patriots of Lexington is a multi-pronged project that includes a nine-part series that explores the lives of 5 soldiers who fought in Lexington on April 19, 1775; three Black men who witnessed the battle as Lexington residents and later enlisted in the Continental Army; and two Black women and one Black man who witnessed the first day of war. Of the 8 soldiers, 3 were born into land-owning, tax-paying families and 5 were born into enslavement. All served their nascent country well and 7 of the 8 are known to have died free men. The YouTube series was coproduced by ABCL, LexMedia and Tricons 2 Red Tails.
The project also includes portrait banners of the 11 featured Black Patriots and two workshops to help create a community of storytellers and reenactors that can bring these amazing 18th century lives to a 21st century audience.
ABCL’s Black Patriots of Lexington is supported by a Community Endowment of Lexington grant.
