Fighting on Arrival, Fighting for Survival: The Buffalo Soldier

A term that regained fame from Bob Marley’s?1983 hit, the Buffalo Soldier is a name for the brave enslaved Black Americans whose suffering and sacrifice for America is regarded as a heroic staple in history, but at a cost.

Who Were the Buffalo Soldiers?

The Buffalo Soldiers?were African-American soldiers who served on the Western frontier in the American Civil War. An all-Black cavalry was created when Congress passed the Army Organization Act in 1866. Their duties consisted of monitoring the Native Americans on the Plainlands, police cattle rustlers, thieves, and other criminals. Their sole responsibility was to protect settlers and railroad crews on the Western front.

Why were they called Buffalo Soldiers?

There is not much information available to give a proper explanation of the origin of their name. One theory is that Native Americans gave them the term because of their?dark, curly thick hair. Black Americans’ hair would be compared to the mane of a buffalo, an animal highly regarded and respected in Native American culture. Another theory is that Black American soldiers fought fiercely and bravely for America during battles, not unlike the Great Plains buffalo. Whatever the reason, the term ‘buffalo soldier’ was widely embraced in the First World War, where the term was used as a symbol of pride and valiance in the 92nd Infantry Division.

The Racial Segregation of Buffalo Soldiers

African Americans sought out opportunities for acceptance and serving their country in Post-Civil War. Unsurprisingly, Black military soldiers were treated far worse than their white counterparts. For example, they were entitled to a?monthly compensation?of $13 for their service. Buffalo Soldiers were also never accepted into commissioned positions and the white soldiers were allowed to take authoritative ranks. Buffalo Soldiers fought in unfathomably harsh and unimaginable conditions on Indigenous lands for over twenty years. From scorching heat to freezing temperatures, they were never reveled for their stoicism in the US Army.

Only 4% of Buffalo Soldiers were given Medals of Honor for their brave work, despite them making up 12% of the US Army. To add insult to injury, Buffalo Soldiers became the scapegoat for hostile relations between Native Americans and Congress, the government, and White figures of authority. As a result, Buffalo Soldiers faced hostility, hate crimes, and other forms of discrimination from both Whites and Natives in the east.

The disambiguation of the Buffalo Soldier

Although mysteries shroud certain aspects of the Buffalo Soldier (e.g., how their name came to be) it was clear that the US Army used Buffalo Soldiers as shock troops for the government. That is, they were seen as infantry ready to attack on sight. The use of Buffalo Soldiers was to civilize the Western Frontier, at the expense of Native Americans’ culture and lifestyle, alongside other minorities. They intended to use African Americans to do the dirty work. The Buffalo Soldier represents the Black man who wished to be freed from slavery and given a chance to prove his worth as a human in a White country. The raw truth, however, is the diaspora that is the Black man who was stolen from his land, dehumanized, then forced to fight in a war he did not start, fight in terrible conditions, receive little to no recognition for his work, and be subject to racism even after all he had sacrificed.

The Buffalo Soldiers hold a strong and unique place in history and memory, as they should. They did their best to serve the United States and protected its assets and people, helping the US become a world power. They faced discrimination, hate, and racism at their stations but still fought to be a credit to the nation.

The National Museum of American History?acquired two collections documenting the Buffalo Soldiers and sometimes their families. They have collections that read more than just records of military service. They begin as a starting point into the lives, legacies, and leadership of these remarkable soldiers.