African American involvement in the American Revolution ranged from fighting for the Patriots, to fighting for the Loyalists, to fighting for their own freedom. On the Patriot side, African Americans saw the possibility to use their military service to gain their freedom. The majority of the free African Americans who fought for the Patriots did so for the promise of freedom and not just for the cause of independence. Those who served in the patriot army and navy were promised money or land in addition to freedom.
On the Loyalist side, some African Americans used the conflict to gain their freedom by escaping slavery. Many thousands joined the British forces to gain their own freedom, either on their own accord or as part of promises made by the British of rewards and freedom in exchange for their military service. The vast majority of those Loyalists who joined the British forces saw freedom as their ultimate goal and the Revolution as an opportunity to pursue it.
While some chose to fight for the Patriots in exchange for possible freedom, countless others made their way to the British forces to directly pursue freedom; a goal which wasn't possible outside of the Revolution.