The stories of Black and Indigenous men who fought during the American Revolution are sometimes overlooked. History books traditionally focus on the roles of white leaders such as George Washington and Paul Revere. As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, patriots of color are being celebrated through programs nationwide that aim to tell a more complete story of the birth of the nation. Christopher Brown, a historian at Columbia University, says “a more accurate view of the past” has emerged that showcases the diverse collection of men and women who played critical roles in the fight for freedom. The National Park Service estimates 5,500 patriots of color served on the colonial side.

The pope’s planned visit to a Catholic chapel in Angola that was connected to the slave trade is seen as a symbolic moment by some Africans. Pope Leo XIV will pray Sunday at the Church of Our Lady of Muxima, where enslaved Africans were baptized before being sent to the coast to be put on ships to the Americas. More slaves set off from Angola than any other country. It’s unclear if the first American pope will address slavery on his visit to Africa, but it may still prompt reflections on his own heritage. Last year, a genealogist discovered that Leo had Black and white ancestors in Louisiana who included both enslaved people and slave owners.