THE FORGOTTEN FOUNDERS: PIRATES

When most think of America’s origins, the usual names rise—Washington, Jefferson, Franklin. But history’s a bit more raw and rugged than textbooks let on. Lurking beneath the powdered wigs and parchment were the outlaws of the ocean: pirates.

At BLK FLG, we don’t celebrate the polished—we celebrate the bold. And few were bolder than the men and women who flew the black flag long before America was born.

Rebels with a Cause

Pirates didn’t just plunder—they disrupted empires. In the 1600s and early 1700s, many pirates found refuge in colonial ports like Charleston, Boston, and New Providence (the original Pirate Republic). These weren’t just hideouts—they were launchpads for trade, ideas, and resistance.

In fact, some pirates openly opposed tyranny, refused to bow to monarchs, and ran ships as floating democracies. Captains were elected. Profits were shared. Power wasn’t inherited—it was earned. Sound familiar?

Allies in the Shadows

During times of war, especially the American Revolution, privateers—legalized pirates—became crucial. Commissioned by the Continental Congress, they attacked British supply lines, captured enemy ships, and turned the tide from the sea.

Many of these privateers were former pirates. Their skill, speed, and guts were unmatched. Without them, the Revolution might have stalled—or sunk.

Built for the Thrill, Since the Beginning

So yes, pirates stole gold. But they also stole freedom—from kings, from tyranny, from the expected. They lived by grit, by code, by the thrill of the unknown.

Just like us.

BLK FLG was never built to follow the rules. We exist for the ones who forge their own path. And if that means sailing headfirst into a storm with nothing but your crew and your convictions—you’re in damn good company.

Raise your flag. Get your revenge. And remember: some of the first to fight for liberty flew black, not red, white, and blue.