Ned Hector- Colonial African American Patriot Time Travels Back in Time to Fourth Grade

This week Ned Hector, portrayed by re-enactor Noah Lewis, paid a visit to our 4th grade classroom.  The class was fully engrossed in a discussion about the causes that led up to the Revolutionary War, when suddenly the door burst open and Ned Hector, dressed in full colonial patriot uniform, ran into the room wildly looking for his commanding officer to report to duty. We quickly discovered that Ned had traveled back in time and had been in the middle of the Battle of Brandywine when he was transported to our classroom.

He spent the morning explaining life during this time period and the many roles he, an African American, played in colonial society as well as the role other African Americans played in helping to win the Revolutionary War. Ned was a teamster and bombardier, and he role played with the students regarding what a day in that life would entail. Students learned about commerce and how the role of a person who owned a horse and wagon could change the economic fabric of a town and an individuals’ earning potential. The students also had a chance to learn about cannons and defense strategies of the time period.

 Noah Lewis closed out his presentation with a passionate explaining of the important role African Americans and people of color played in helping to win the revolutionary war. He spoke to how African American history is American history and how they are inextricably entwined.  After the presentation some of the students shared their thoughts about Noah's presentation. 

 

“I learned military strategy about the Battle of Brandywine.” John

Everybody no matter your skin color you are fighting for the same cause it makes no sense to not include everyone it doesn’t make sense to not want to include people because of the way they look. It wasn’t fair and they shouldn’t have done it. - Maggie

        "I liked the ending, it was deep." - Sofia

"It was pretty serious, when he talked about freedom and how people died for it." -Sophie

"It was kind of nice that he wasn't just blurting out facts... he got us involved and we actually got to feel what it was like." -Marcellus 

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