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NATIVE CULTURE

The Founding Father They Don’t Teach You About

PBS Origins | October 22, 2025



The British government vowed freedom to enslaved people if they could escape and take up arms against their Patriot enslavers. But when the British failed to deliver promised land in Nova Scotia, the Black Loyalists needed a leader to step up, sail across the ocean, and demand a solution. That man would be Thomas Peters, a former prince who escaped enslavement in North Carolina.

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Rogue History
It’s been said that history is written by those in power. But what about the outlaws, outcasts, and rogues? What if they had their say? Rogue History, a digital series produced by PBS Digital Studios and PBS North Carolina, shakes the dust off the history books to unravel myths, unearth narratives, and discover fresh perspectives.

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Comments

This post currently has 34 comments.

  1. @Luke-n-CourtneyMentzer

    October 22, 2025 at 7:58 am

    Thank you. I'd never even heard of this story. I feel terrible that another human had to live that life. I have roots in the Yaqui tribe so I understand the feeling of knowing that your forebears hadbeen enslaved. Well, all of those Yaqui were worked to death so I guess I'm not related to them…

  2. @John-c7h8f

    October 22, 2025 at 7:58 am

    If nat is then Charlie is then Jeff is and if they never die I would never die..m.my fate is tied to tgem…hell for one would be for me alone…I'd find that hard to justify other wise…if I had any sense of better…but better…idk…it starts to topple approaching one…only a chance in hell at one…idk…I could never hold anyone responsible for my hurt feelings over relationships involving me that failed being what I had hoped theyd be…Itd be the truth that I was as culpable in the unachieved expectation as any other and, in fact, would still owe any others involved for helping me even to have expectations…that's just facts…for what its worth…I hope this thought has value and retains it. If you break my heart then I must thank you and owe you for it…the math checks out

  18. @ITSWHATEVAHBYTYRFREE-wf8pd

    October 22, 2025 at 7:58 am

    Take note people, without those abolitionists and human history, many of whom happens to have been Caucasian, the enslavement of African people would have lasted much longer. Many more centuries at least! We do our best work together as human beings. Division is truly what keeps us from being great as a race of humans. I hold a special place in my heart for abolitionist. They came in all shades and often times, they heard in their hearts, the voice of God.

  22. @skipfluck4299

    October 22, 2025 at 7:58 am

    PBS is a far left liberal media outlet, so lot of the stories like this one include far left narratives that stretch the truth. I would need more evidence that story is true, than just PBS interpretation.

  24. @NEWYORKSTATEOFMIND-e1s

    October 22, 2025 at 7:58 am

    They feel this information isn't important and if they did release this information it would expose all the lies they continue to uphold to further dehumanize and degrade black people to be viewed as less than or incapable of doing something great.

  27. @sandra701

    October 22, 2025 at 7:58 am

    Yours was a most informative and well told historical account of Thomas life. It’s a beautifully inspiring way to start my rising! I hope to find many more stories being I am the Granddaughter of a Louisiana Slave!

  28. @elizabethl8916

    October 22, 2025 at 7:58 am

    Dude this guy is not father to any nation, it’s like you don’t know what that means 😂😂 the slavery obsessed k😂😂😂😂 of course you say colonials terrorized black-whereas colonials were terrorizing BRITISH everything yawn how underwhelming

  30. @Boss-313

    October 22, 2025 at 7:58 am

    White western imperialists have always rewritten history to cover their crimes, control the narrative and paint themselves in a better light. Once western imperialism is dead in the water the brutal truth will surface. To think these so called civilised people even had human zoos with blacks locked up inside! Truly the wicked amongst them are likened to the devils seed alongside the zionists!

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