July 28th is an important day in Black history. Just one month after Juneteenth, it’s fitting that the day marks the formation of the first Army regiment of African-American soldiers. This was only possible after Congress passed the Army Organization Act during the Civil War of 1866, thus allowing free slaves to serve.
In my high school history class, I learned about the existence of African-American soldiers and the part they played in WWII—how they left their segregated country to put their lives on the line for it, only to return to more of the same treatment, if not worse. How America managed to justify treating them as second-class citizens even after they fought so bravely for the rights of all Americans still boggles my mind. Once again, this was just history repeating itself, and we see that such discrimination continues today.
The Buffalo Soldiers were one of many all-Black regiments to come about during the Civil War. One would think it’d be easy to abandon a cause when the people you’re fighting for and against don’t think you deserve to breathe free air. However, the Buffalo Soldiers had some of the lowest desertion rates observed at the time. They remained dedicated throughout the Spanish-American War and kept other commitments well into the late 1800s.
I consider the Indian Wars an unfortunate blemish to the Buffalo Soldiers’ otherwise honorable legacy; they fought dozens of battles against Native Americans who wanted to leave the reservation and received high praise for it. However, I doubt it’s easy to see which side of history they were standing on when they were so focused on earning their right to serve. In the meantime, they also defended unsettled lands for pioneers, served as national park rangers to battle natural disasters and thieves, and defended the Mexican border during WWI. They were deactivated during WWII in 1944 as integration within the military became court-issued.
The men who served with the Buffalo Soldiers certainly paved a path that many would eventually follow. Born a slave, Henry O. Flipper was the first Black commissioned officer to lead them and the first to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Col. Charles Young was the third Black man to graduate, and the first Black colonel in the Army. Many of the Buffalo Soldiers earned a Medal of Honor.
There are several monuments dedicated to the Buffalo Soldiers around the country. General Colin Powell dedicated a monument to them at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where the 10th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers were based. Charles Young’s is in Ohio, and the Buffalo Soldier Museum is in Houston, Texas. In San Francisco’s Union Square, there’s a commemorative event happening at 8:30 a.m.
If the men could see how much their service would be appreciated today, I’m sure their shock would be endless. I can’t help but wonder if they would be happy seeing the world no longer segregated by law, or if seeing how much more work needs to be done hundreds of years later would take away from their joy.
In any case, the best way to ensure their sacrifice is never forgotten is to continue to observe the day. Happy National Buffalo Soldiers Day!
penned by Diva Ferrell
Photo from the Library of Congress
