The Story of Prince Hall
More than 250 years ago, the American colonies went to war against their ruling country, Great Britain. This war, called the American Revolution, led to the birth of the United States. But some of the people who fought for the rights of Americans had few rights themselves. One of these patriots was a man named Prince Hall.
No one knows the exact details of Hall’s background. He may have been born on the island of Barbados, and he may have been enslaved there. By 1770, Hall was a free man living in Boston, Massachusetts.
Hall was active in the Freemasons, which was a bit like a club that had meeting places in both America and Europe. The Freemasons said they believed in freedom and equality. Yet the Boston Freemasons did not allow Black people to join. Hall and several other men founded a Freemasons meeting place for Black members called the African Lodge. The African Lodge became an important part of building a community for Black Boston residents.
Prince Hall helped found the African Lodge for Black Free Masons. The African Lodge is still active today.
Fighting for Independence
At this time, a growing number of Americans believed the colonies should fight for independence from Britain. They argued that Great Britain did not respect the rights of the American people. (Click through the slideshow farther down on this page to learn more.)
But Hall noted that most Black Americans had no rights at all. Slavery was legal in all 13 colonies, and most Black people were enslaved. When the American Revolution began, in 1775, Hall believed the war should lead to freedom and equality for both white and Black Americans. He signed up to fight in America’s Continental Army and encouraged other Black men to do the same.
America won the American Revolution in 1783, and the United States became an independent nation. But slavery did not end, and even free Black Americans like Hall did not have the same rights as white Americans.
After the War
Hall spent his life fighting for the rights of Black Americans. In 1777, he wrote to the government of Massachusetts, demanding a gradual end to the institution of slavery there. After Massachusetts ended slavery in the 1780s, Hall spoke out in support of education for Black children, who were not allowed to attend public school. Eventually, Hall and others opened a school for Black children in Boston.
Prince Hall died in 1807. His work helped make the United States a fairer, more just nation. It also helped pave the way for civil rights activists who followed.
