Rooftop Revelation: We Will Not Let Freedom Die

Corey Brooks, a pastor and founder of Project HOOD, shared that a visit to the Fredericksburg battlefield in Virginia reminded him of the freedom soldiers fought for and called on the nation to learn from their heroism.

I’ve been wandering around this vast country for months now. There’s something quite special about walking. You catch little details, have conversations with strangers, and sometimes just inhale the vibrant atmosphere of a place. When I headed to Fredericksburg, Virginia, I looked forward to exploring historic battlefields, but then things got a bit challenging. After many days of walking, a doctor found a pyogenic granuloma on my heel. It hurts, and I’m bleeding a bit, yet somehow, I feel like this temporary pain is minuscule compared to the suffering that occurred on these historic grounds.

Fredericksburg was a site of devastation during the Civil War, where Union soldiers faced Confederate artillery, paying the ultimate price. Other nearby battlefields like Spotsylvania and Chancellorsville carry the weight of soldiers who sacrificed their lives for freedom. Sure, my feet ache, but I can’t help but think of how that’s nothing… really, nothing compared to what those soldiers endured, enabling others to walk freely, filled with hope.

I’m walking, not just for myself, but for a whole generation of kids who need to feel valued enough to fight for their chances. Many of them have faced unfairness, not knowing their rich history or what has come before.

As I trek across America, Thomas Sowell’s warning keeps echoing in my mind.

A stranger approached me, pointing towards a field and sharing that fugitive slaves once silently traversed this land, risking everything for their freedom. They traveled mostly at night, often without shoes, counting on the kindness of others.

Strolling through the Fredericksburg Battlefield, I paused to read the signs and look at the monuments honoring those who fought for freedom. It grounded me in the idea that true freedom requires effort. We haven’t had to risk our lives in the same way our ancestors did. That’s why it’s crucial we do everything we can to protect the freedom we have; we can’t let it slip away.

Taking a moment on a bench, I rested my sore feet. A man named Ben approached. He was visiting from South Carolina and asked if I knew about the Battle of Newmarket Heights. I didn’t. He explained that it’s a battlefield a couple of hours from here where former slaves, now part of the United States Colored Troops, valiantly stormed a Confederate fort on September 29, 1864.

Ben described how this was part of a strategy to draw Confederate forces away from Petersburg, orchestrated by Union Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler—and it was all under the command of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. Butler believed strongly in the potential of black soldiers, which was especially evident after the unfortunate events at the Crater raid earlier that summer. He wanted to showcase their courage, and as they prepared to charge, he rode amongst them, rallying them with the words, “Don’t forget Fort Pillow!” — referencing a horrific massacre of black Union soldiers.

On the day of the battle, they charged uphill at 5:30 a.m., facing significant fire, leading to over 200 casualties in mere minutes. When a white officer fell, a black soldier took charge. They seized the regimental flag from the fallen and continued their advance. By 8 a.m., black troops had overwhelmed the Confederates and captured key positions.

Fourteen black soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their valor during this battle, a notable achievement in terms of recognition for black troops throughout the war. Ben noted that witnessing those battlegrounds, where men who had only recently been slaves died fighting for freedom, moved a lot of people to tears.

Imagining their struggle—the tenacity and faith of those who fought for a freedom they had only just begun to experience—left me in awe. They fought not just for themselves, but for everyone’s freedom.

I’m walking today because I see so many squander this incredible gift of freedom. After thanking Ben with a heartfelt hug, I realized that a newfound understanding of these brave individuals is now my mission to share.

I resumed walking, momentarily forgetting the pain I felt. The focus shifted to what freedom truly means.

But this isn’t just a chapter closed; it’s the beginning of an ongoing battle. Today, the struggle for freedom isn’t fought with guns and knives, but through votes, education, and strong convictions. The real enemy isn’t out there—it’s within us. Schools are failing, families are splintering, and children are losing hope.

I keep moving forward. One step at a time. Not because it’s an easy path, but because it’s a cause worth fighting for. The names of those once forgotten—like Powhatan Beatty and Christian Fleetwood—remind us that freedom isn’t something handed to us; it is claimed.

Let’s make their triumph our mission: we will not allow freedom to perish on our watch.