America’s First Submarine Was Built by a Black Engineer — Here’s the Hidden Truth

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Video Description

History books tell us that Horace Hunley, a wealthy Confederate lawyer, built America’s first submarine. But that’s not the full story. Behind the myth lies a hidden truth—one that was erased for over a century. The groundbreaking engineering that made the *H.L. Hunley* possible did not come solely from wealthy white men, but from the brilliance, labor, and technical genius of enslaved Black craftsmen whose names were deliberately stripped from the record.

This video uncovers the forgotten story of the Black engineer who helped create America’s first submarine—a man forced into bondage, yet whose mind and skill reshaped naval warfare forever. We explore how enslaved mechanics and artisans turned raw iron and timber into an underwater weapon, why their contributions were erased, and how the Hunley’s tragic voyage symbolizes both innovation and injustice.

The story of the Hunley is not just about a machine—it is about stolen credit, buried legacies, and the resilience of Black genius that powered America’s greatest achievements, even when hidden in the shadows.

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References

Ragan, Mark A. *The Hunley: Submarines, Sacrifice, and Success in the Civil War*. Camden: Nautical & Aviation Publishing, 1995.
Wise, Stephen R. *Lifeline of the Confederacy: Blockade Running During the Civil War*. University of South Carolina Press, 1988.
Bunch, Lonnie G., and Spencer R. Crew. *Slave Culture and the Origins of Black America*. Smithsonian Institution, 2002.
Still, William N. *Iron Afloat: The Story of the Confederate Armorclads*. University of South Carolina Press, 1985.
Franklin, John Hope, and Loren Schweninger. *Runaway Slaves: Rebels on the Plantation*. Oxford University Press, 1999.
Gates Jr., Henry Louis. *Black in Latin America*. NYU Press, 2011.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Archives, Charleston and Mobile shipyard records (1862–1864).