September 3, 2016, Harlowe Township, Craven County, North Carolina.

In an historic moment, the North Carolina Society of the Sons of the American Revolution chartered its newest chapter, the Patriot Isaac Carter Chapter, in honor of fourteen brave African American men who patriotically served in the American Revolutionary War.

The Isaac Carter Chapter is the first of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution named after an African-American and is the first chapter in the male lineage society consisting of predominantly African-American men.

As more and more African Americans begin to trace their family lineage, this is just another important milestone in preserving American history and the history of thousands of African Americans who were unaware that their ancestors and approximately 10,0000 African American men served in the American Revolution in the North and in the South. 

As the author of the award winning book “Freedom Road: An American Family Saga from Jamestown to World War,” I explore in detail the important roles of African Americans in early American history, and how they were instrumental forging the concept of a democratic nation grounded in the principles of equality and justice for all.

This was a particularly important evening for me, for I have the distinct honor of being one of the members of the new chapter, and share this distinction with its first ten newly inducted members including: Elwood Becton, Marcus Elwood Becton, Napoleon Carter, Dennis Windell Ellis, Beleather, ”Butch” Fisher, III, Max Allen Fisher, Alan Deline Frazier, Sr., Ricky Darnell Frazier, Tyrone Lamar Frazier, and James Christopher Kelly, Jr..

 Maria Williams Cole, "DAR Mother" of the Patriot Isaac Carter Chapter, donated this beautiful oil painting depicting descendants as their patriotic Revolutionary War ancestors. Photo courtesy of Karen Sutton. [/caption]Maria Williams Cole, a descendant of Isaac Carter, is credited with helping the inducted members in forming the chapter. Ms. Cole, a descendant of Issac Carter is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution was honored with the title of "DAR Mother" of the Patriot Isaac Carter Chapter.  

The induction ceremony brought together the descendants of free African-American men and women who founded the Harlowe community with officials from the Sons of the American Revolution and from the Daughters of the American Revolution from all across the country, including President General National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, J. Michael Tomme.