The Boston Massacre, which took place on March 5, 1770, was a pivotal event in American history that involved the killing of five colonists by British soldiers in Boston, Massachusetts. Although the victims of the massacre were not specifically Black individuals, it is important to recognize the larger context of slavery and racism in colonial America to understand the significance of this event in Black history.

Leading up to the Boston Massacre, tensions between the American colonists and the British authorities were high, fueled by issues such as taxation without representation and the presence of British troops in Boston. African Americans, both free and enslaved, were deeply affected by the political and social unrest of the time. Many Black individuals in the colonies had been fighting for freedom and equality for years, and they were closely involved in the revolutionary movements against British rule.

In the aftermath of the Boston Massacre, which heightened anti-British sentiment and fueled the flames of the American Revolution, Black individuals continued to play important roles in the fight for independence. Many Black soldiers fought on both the American and British sides during the revolution, seeking freedom and equality for themselves and their communities. Their contributions to the war effort, as well as their ongoing struggles for liberty and justice, are an integral part of Black history in America.