Talk:Crispus Attucks

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[edit] Major Revision/expansion

I just completed a major revision/expansion of the article. I made an earnest effort to enable readers to clearly understand that relatively little is known for sure about Attucks, while simultaneously treating the folk history and sentiment surrounding Attucks with the importance and gravitas it deserves by merit of the significance his person holds as one of the few well-known and much-discussed people of color from this era of United States history.

I made a small reduction in the amount of general info about the Boston Massacre as that can be found in the Boston Massacre article itself. I did, however, replace it with a greater amount of material that deals specifically with Attucks in relation to the massacre.

This is probably my largest and most carefully-worded Wikipedia article so far. I hope it meets the approval of many, or even most, readers.

-- House of Scandal 04:35, 28 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] First killed?

This selection from the article sounds dubious:50 cent shot Crispus Attucks

Recent evidence points to the fact that Crispus Attucks was not literally the first man to be killed, but that he was struck by a bullet deflected from another person.

I think we need to have that recent evidence adduced in the article. Ortolan88 00:38, 29 Sep 2004 (UTC)

it was added by Nichalp [1]. I put a note on his talk page. but does it really matter how he was killed (whether by a delflected bullet or not; wasn't it inaccurate musket fire) as much as that he died first? Whosyourjudas (talk) 00:48, 29 Sep 2004 (UTC)

Yes, but Attucks is famous for just one thing and we ought to get it right. First killed? or First to die? or One of the dead? We need the evidence one way or the other. Did the person off whom the bullet was deflected die? Did he die before Attucks? Was there an autopsy or something to prove this point? Without this alleged recent evidence, I think the paragraph should be deleted. Ortolan88 00:52, 29 Sep 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Unsolved History

Last Monday I watched this program Unsolved History -- on Discovery Channel. It detailed the Boston Massacre and mentioned that the autopsy revealed that the bullet passed entered his body and deflected in another direction while in his body. While a normal bullet passes a body in a linear fashion (a straight line), the only way that a bullet would deflect, was if it passed wholly through another person on its way so as to slow down the velocity. They said that the most likely candidate (at this moment I can't recall his9;åḽṗ | ✉]] 20:37, Sep 29, 2004 (UTC)

[edit] actually black ?

The assumption is based on a notice concerning a runaway slave named Crispus, listed about 20 years before the Boston Massacre. There is nothing in particular to link the two Crispuses.—Preceding unsigned comment added by Cute 1 4 u (talk • contribs)


This article is folk history -- not history.—Preceding unsigned comment added by Cute 1 4 u (talk • contribs)


There is some evidence, Paul Revere's woodcut for one. Attucks is a Natick name, which supports the geography (the Natick settlement neighbored Framingham). There is other circumstantial evidence, including the "folk history" which you apparently completely dismiss as viable. One thing I don't understand about your conspiracy theory is, what would anyone's motive be for revising Attucks into a black-Indian, were he not? Please elucidate, and present alternative evidence. Thanks in advance.—Preceding unsigned comment added by Cute 1 4 u (talk • contribs)

Abolisionists were the first to describe Crispus as a black or part black person...their motivation would have been to show that a black man was the first to die for this country and that black folks were just as worthy of freedom as anyone else in america

Someone can research this further but I remember reading one time that the Boston massacre wasnt so much brought on by men protesting but by men throwing rocks or snowballs at British troops. One of the troops either fired as a warning or accidentally and the rest followed.

  • These issues are all addressed in the current revision -- House of Scandal 04:09, 13 November 2006 (UTC)

Revere's woodcut depicts Attucks as white.[2] This, along with Attucks's being buried in a white cemetery, suggest he was white. HedgeFundBob (talk) 17:22, 22 April 2008 (UTC)

  • Again, these issues are all addressed in the current revision -- House of Scandal (talk) 18:05, 22 April 2008 (UTC)
Not really, although I do think the article is relatively balanced. Can you establish a precedent for mulattoes and whites being buried together in this place and time? The logic in this article runs to "blacks and whites could NOT be buried together, but mulattoes and whites COULD." Such evidence would be powerful. Also, it would be interesting to see some sources for the discussion of the various prints. HedgeFundBob (talk) 15:38, 23 April 2008 (UTC)

See revised text. - House of Scandal (talk) 16:23, 23 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Image caption

The caption wrongly identified both the date and artist. The old caption was taken directly from a grade school project, but I have used the information made available by the National Archives, in conjunction with other sites:

http://www.archives.gov/research/american-revolution/pictures/

http://nfo.dodmedia.osd.mil/CGI-BIN/om_isapi.dll?clientID=214552&infobase=wandc.nfo&softpage=Document

Ken Albers 19:43, 28 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Crispus Attack

—Preceding unsigned comment added by Cute 1 4 u (talk • contribs)

[edit] Removed Stub

Not a tub anymore. --Banana04131 18:16, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] WTF?

Dear writers,

Dave Teague here. As I say I am not very good with this commentary stuff, butI just read this version of the Article, having Native American and African Ancestry as well as so many other ethnicites, I am interested in our history. But I noticed this comment

"Indians and Black people frequently interbred in Colonial times as evidenced by accounts from the..."

Many Native American PEOPLE and African PEOPLE, married,lots of them even had Christian Style Ceremonies. I think that INTERBRED should changed to INTERMARRIED..if only for the sake of accuracy.

SLAVERS and NAZI's were the ones that attempted interbreeding People and with People.

Thanks for working so hard...must be tough work to keep up with thhe non-sense and Vandalism.

Regards,

Rev.Dave

  • RE: INTERBRED/INTERMARRIED

In truth, of course, getting married and having children aren't the same thing. I do see your point, however, and will change the text to "had children together" or some similar phrase. --House of Scandal 06:04, 18 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] INTRO

The intro paragraph of the article states:

Crispus Attucks (circa 1723 - March 5, 1770), was one of five people killed in the Boston Massacre. He has been frequently named as the first martyr for the cause of American Independence and was the only person killed in the event whose name is commonly remembered.

"was one of five people killed in the Boston Massacre" and "was the only person killed in the event whose name is commonly remembered" are drastically incongruent. Obviously, one of them is bull. I just don't know which one...

~ Flameviper Who's a Peach? 23:19, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

I do not see a conflict in those statements...he was one of five killed, and is the only one whose name is commonly remembered or known...Whats the incongruence? Engr105th 12:44, 6 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Served in the Army ??

The first line of the article states Attucks served in the Army for 20 years...I can find no evidence for this - a slave would not have been eligible, and anyway the "army" was British, so militia is the only option for a runaway slave, but that's also unlikely.
Anybody have a source for his military service?
Engr105th 16:03, 23 May 2007 (UTC)

Appears someone removed the line about his "20 yrs in the Army"....Thanks ! Engr105th 18:49, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

It was a bit of vandalism that stayed in the article way longer than it should have. --House of Scandal 20:13, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Image:Crispus Attucks.jpg

I found proof that Image:Crispus Attucks.jpg is public domain. See the image page for details. Thus, I put it back in the article. Superm401 - Talk 19:50, 2 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Coin

There was a commemorative coin released by the US Mint in 1998 with Attucks' bust on the front. Here is a link to it, but I'm unsure of exactly where to place this in the article and how much information to give; if anyone would like to add it, that would be great. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Isaiahcambron (talk • contribs) 21:21, 20 November 2007 (UTC)

  • Thank you for the information. I have incorporated it. -- House of Scandal (talk) 16:24, 29 February 2008 (UTC)