Fort Mose – America’s First Free Black Settlement

2025-09-15

In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh takes us back to the 1700s and the remarkable story of Fort Mose—America’s first legally sanctioned free Black settlement. Just north of St. Augustine, Florida, Fort Mose offered freedom, safety, and community to those who escaped slavery in the British colonies and found refuge under Spanish rule. Discover how formerly enslaved Africans built lives as free men and women, defended their settlement with courage dur...

In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, host Tamara Shiloh takes us back to the 1700s and the remarkable story of Fort Mose—America’s first legally sanctioned free Black settlement. Just north of St. Augustine, Florida, Fort Mose offered freedom, safety, and community to those who escaped slavery in the British colonies and found refuge under Spanish rule.

Discover how formerly enslaved Africans built lives as free men and women, defended their settlement with courage during war, and left behind a legacy that challenges the very foundation of slavery in America. From its beginnings in 1738 to its rediscovery centuries later, Fort Mose stands as a testament to resilience, hope, and the enduring fight for freedom.

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