Our Ancestors Were Messy

The Revolutionary Black Loyalists! Live with Tressie McMillan Cottom

July 8, 2026·1h 38m
Episode Description from the Publisher

Thousands of our ancestors escaped slavery during the American Revolution, fought for the British on the promise of freedom, and left an outsized legacy in the US, Canada, and beyond. Starring writer, sociologist, and MacArthur Fellow Tressie McMillian Cottom taped live on Juneteenth at the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU in Richmond, VA.  Support this independent production and access bonus content at https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com Sign up for the newsletter and learn more about the show at https://ourancestorsweremessy.com Stay in touch at ouranestorsweremessy@gmail.com Follow the show on Instagram at @ourancestorsweremessy Follow the show on TikTok at @ourancestorsweremessy Listen on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@OurAncestorsWereMessy  SELECT SOURCES The Black Loyalists of the American Revolution Enslaved by George Washington, This Man Escaped to Freedom-and Joined the British Army Black Loyalists Exodus to Nova Scotia An Account of the Life of Mr. David George from SLA given by himself George Liele Thomas Peters The Black Loyalist Heritage Center

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