Buffalo Soldiers Day: History, Significance And Quotes To Honor Black Americans

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Buffalo Soldiers Day: History, Significance And Quotes To Honor Black Americans
By: Naina Raghavan - IBT Times News - 07-28-21
Re: https://www.ibtimes.com/buffalo-sold...ricans-3261481

History note:

a. No one knows for certain why, but the soldiers of the all-Black 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments were dubbed “buffalo soldiers” by the Native Americans they encountered. One theory claims the nickname arose because the soldiers' dark, curly hair resembled the fur of a buffalo.

b. How long were there Buffalo Soldiers?

To the contrary, the Buffalo Soldiers became known for their courage and fortitude. Among the white U.S. officers commanding them were three black West Point graduates: Henry O. Flipper, John Hanks Alexander and Charles Young. The regiments served from 1866 until the army was desegregated in 1951.

c. Nolan. Was the first black commissioned officer to lead the Buffalo Soldiers and the first black graduate of West Point, was Henry O. Flipper in 1877. From 1870 to 1898 the total strength of the US Army totaled 25,000 service members with black soldiers maintaining their 10 percent representation.

Buffalo Soldiers Day is celebrated every year in the United States on July 28 to honor the first all-Black army regiment that was formed to keep order in the Wild West after the Civil War.

The soldiers were initially members of the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army. They were named buffalo soldiers by Native American Indians for unknown reasons following which the term became synonymous with all Black regiments formed in 1866.

On July 28, 1866, Congress enacted legislation that allowed African-American men to serve in the United States Army during peacetime. In 1940, racial segregation in the military was abolished and the buffalo soldiers were redistributed to other units. By the next decade, the Buffalo Soldiers became a memory.

In 1992, President George Bush proclaimed July 28 as Buffalo Soldiers Day to honor 180,000 Black Americans "who fought to preserve the Union during the Civil War."

"Despite suffering the discrimination and the injustice that plagued all black Americans during the days of segregation, the members of the 9th and 10th Cavalry regiments served with pride and distinction. On this occasion, we celebrate their outstanding legacy of service," the President said in the proclamation.

On the occasion of Buffalo Soldiers Day, here are a few quotes by Maurice Broaddus, the author of the book ‘Buffalo Soldiers.’ (Courtesy: Good Reads)

* "No matter how benevolent the ruler, the military drives the empire. Armaments feed the beast. And soldiers who train for war need a war for purpose."

* "Beneath the power of empire is the problem of justice. Peel that back and beneath the power of justice is the problem of violence."

* "When the powerless seek their own sense of control, ‘crime’ is what an unjust system produces."

* "The urban sprawl of squat earthen buildings trailed into the woods, layered, unobtrusive, camouflaged by nature, inadvertent interruptions to the greenways."

* "Any town considered a potential boomtown had encampments whose tents fluttered in the breeze like a squad of sailboats coming to port. People flocked to a town such as this for an opportunity for a factory job. A cloister of lean-tos, bivouacs, and canvas sheets stretched out for shelter formed a tent city that nestled against the town proper."

Photo link: https://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibt...-1024x1024.jpg
Buffalo Soldier Photo: Getty Images

File note:

When did the last buffalo soldier die? September 6, 2005
His Name: Mark Matthews
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Mark Matthews during his tenure as a Buffalo Soldier (date unknown)
He was born August 7, 1894 Greenville, Alabama
He died - September 6, 2005 (at the age of 111 years, 30 days) Washington, D.C.
His place of burial: Arlington National Cemetery

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To know more I found this link some of you might want to read:

Title: The Buffalo Soldiers in WWI
Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
Re: https://www.nps.gov/articles/the-buf...ers-in-wwi.htm

They posted this during WW1:

Photo link: https://www.nps.gov/chyo/images/Cuba...torotate=false
Buffalo Soldiers in formation in Cuba. c.1898 - U.S. Army

"Let us, while the war lasts, forget our special grievances & close ranks shoulder to shoulder with our white fellow
citizens and the allied nations that are fighting for democracy. We make no ordinary sacrifice, but we make it
gladly & willingly." BY: W.E.B. DuBois, The Crisis, July 1918

Note: "Corporal Stowers' conspicuous gallantry, extraordinary heroism, and supreme devotion to his men were
well above and beyond the call of duty, follow the finest traditions of military service, and reflect the utmost
credit on him & the U.S. Army."

Final sentence on Corporal Freddie Stower's Medal of Honor citation.

Note: There are several more photo's are on this link - some of you may want to review.
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