Product Description
Tells the story of the African American soldiers known as the Buffalo Soldiers, who fought against American Indians and protected the Western Frontier of the United States. Written in graphic-novel format. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Buffalo Soldiers, Graphically
Buffalo soldiers isn't a topic I learned a lot about in school but they do teach about them now.They have an interesting story and found out a lot more about them in this book.I use these books in my classroom as an ESOL teacher.They are very good.Recommended.

Freedomfighters
The graphic novel approach for young readers is a good way to get the basics about a certain subject; in this case the buffalo soldiers. Some young students may be familiar with this term from listening to Bob Marley Legend (New Packaging) and may be interested to learn more about these special African-American soldiers. The information in this book uses primary sources to compliment the grahic novel, or as some might say ,cartoons. The book details in quick fashion the exploits of the buffalo soldiers, how they were recruited and rose out of the civil war and achieved military success most recently epitomized by Colin Powell being Chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff. The student will learn how the buffalo soldiers weresegregated and fought battles in many Ameerican wars not just in the American west. Students will be introduced to Teddy Roosevelt and the Spanish-American War in addition to other historical characters and events. Speculation (credited to American Indians naming them) is given as to how they became known as buffalo soldiers. A young readers glossary, a special code for use at facthound.com and suggested books like The Buffalo Soldiers (The American West) are helpful additions for young students completing reports. The middle school student will enjoy this fun approach to history. Reading will not be such a chore, information will be attained and the student wil benefit. Reluctant readers will especially be drawn to this format a well as students whose first language is not English. Recommended for middle school and community libraries. ... Read more

Product Description
28 Days of Poetry is an eclectic collection of poems celebrating the history and legacy of African-Americans.The book reflects on slavery, the civil rights movement and paints poetic pictures of the south during a time when America was a divided nation.Young readers will enjoy biographical poems that tell the history of black inventors and other civil rights leaders in history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Required Reading The Full Year 'Round
We all know the familiar names: Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Frederick Douglass, Langston Hughes, all readily recognizable for the high profiles of their lives, as well as their contributions to the rich legacy of African-American culture. But, who can really say they know much about Charles Drew or Ossie Davis? Or just how much the Buffalo Soldiers really accomplished during their years of service?

28 Days Of Poetry is an impressive mosaic of the kaleidoscopic African-American experience. In it, Latorial Faison has breathed new life into the usual retellings of Black history that have often been reduced to quaint clichés and trite sound bites. The breadth and depth of her compositions are so comprehensive that 28 Days can - and probably should - replace most of the textbooks and other outdated materials currently serving as ersatz representations of the American Black experience.

The broad-based appeal of 28 Days will certainly endear it to individuals from all walks of life, but the focus of most of Faison's offerings is clearly on the young. She repeatedly implores the leaders of tomorrow not only to remember the struggles of their forebears that forged the freedoms they currently enjoy, but also to continue the fight to preserve those freedoms for posterity's sake. Witness the second half of the poem "B.L.A.C.K. H.I.S.T.O.R.Y.":

"Hope ran through their veins
In search of rights and freedom trains
Sons and daughters still dying a million deaths
Trying to be free of the chains
Others pressed their way across the
Racial divide of prejudice and hate
Yesterday"

And this moving section of "Slave Questions":

"Why use the whip
And change my name,
Tell all the world
That I've been tamed?

Why teach me words
And give me things
But give me not
What freedom brings?"

Passages such as these should strike today's youth with the same conscientious impact that Alex Haley's ROOTS had on a generation of young viewers in the `70s.

Faison's opus is not just a treatise on cries in the night and cracks of the whip, though. She provides refreshing insight on the lesser known names of some our culture's greatest contributors, such as Phillis Wheatley and Charles Drew. Even the unsung inventor Benjamin Banneker gets the star treatment in "Who Was Benjamin Banneker?":

"If you visit the nation's capital
Or hold a watch in your hand
Think of Benjamin Banneker
Another great African American"

Such tributes serve as reassuring reminders of the towering giants on whose shoulders we stand.

But make no mistake: just as easily as Faison seeks to soothe, she also seeks to stir. Many of her pieces are brashly unapologetic, like this passage from "After Katrina":

"Horrific, embarrassing,
A travesty it is...
When a government waits
To aid its own citizens.

And where was America's
'Great White Hope'
Securing the Middle East
From dictatorship's scope"

Or this one from "Irreconcilable Differences":

With their played out and pimped out politics
Washington is filled with a sad lot of lunatics
So I speak to and preach to my fellowmen
About the need to politically be "born again"

Polemic stances such as these, of course, won't surprise anyone familiar with Faison's other works - namely her contributions to the anti-war (Iraq) movement, "Poets Against The War." In fact, many of the pieces in 28 Days can easily serve as revolutionary fodder in their own right.Consider this passage from "A Slave's Revolt," detailing Nat Turner's insurrection of 1831:

"they bled a dark people of life running through
their veins, mocked them with husbands, wives, and
mulatto baby cries until it was, to no surprise,
a justified rebellion, a righteous revolt, a song
of silent amen's."

At its heart, 28 Days Of Poetry bravely continues the ongoing task of reminding us all that African-American history and American history are one and the same, conveyed most effectively in these lines taken from the opening poem, "Celebrate":

"Acknowledge Black history on any day.
Allow freedom to ring in the noblest way."

While she may only have intended for it to be celebrated during Black History Month, Faison's collection is a treasure that MUST be hailed every day of the year.

Say it loud...
28 DAYS OF POETRY CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY, reminds me of a Reader's Digest version of a stirring novel. It houses an eclectic collection of poems celebrating the legacy of gifted, charismatic, African-Americans. With added accounts of slavery and the civil rights movement, Ms. Faison paints vivid pictures of the south during a time when America was split in half.Readers will be able to lose themselves in biographical poems that highlight Black inventors, innovators, and leaders.The poems are varied in how they inspire; 'B.L.A.C.K. H.I.S.T.O.R.Y.' fills the heart, 'S.L.A.V.E. Q.U.A.R.T.E.R.S. fuels the mind, while 'Buffalo Soldiers' gives a prideful account of some of the first men of color to fight for America's freedom.

Ms. Faison uses the short biographies to capture the attention of young readers. From noted celebrities of yester-year: Benjamin Banneker, Charles Drew, Frederick Douglass, Langston Hughes, and Phyllis Wheatley to more current names: Dr. M.L. King and Rosa Parks, readers are given a treat.This is an empowering collection that adds value to the endurance and stamina of a people who have transcended and continue to rise.

Kudos to Ms. Faison for such inspiring poems that give honor to whom honor is due.Persons desiring a succinct accountability of African-American history will regret not having a copy.

Reviewed by aNN
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

28 Of The Best Days Of My Life . . .
Hi Reader!I wrote 28 Days of Poetry Celebrating Black History because our children need to know so much about the past in order to move forward into the future.This book not only teaches children about the lives of Frederick Douglass, Phillis Wheatley, Dr. Charles Drew, Benjamin Banneker or Buffalo Soldiers, but it also allows seasoned readers and Black historians to reflect on the lives of Black people in America in "Reflections Eternal," "After Katrina," "Fredom Without Revelation," and "The Sounds of Blackness."

This book also includes poems paying tribute to the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mrs. Rosa Parks, and Mr. Ossie Davis.In addition, this book displays the best of Black life, and it will encourage children and adults to press on."We Shall Because We Must." This book brings to life reflections on Black history from the Middle Passage through the Civil Rights Movementand brings us all into the present.

I hope that you will get a copy of this book for your collection. Better yet, pick up a few copies for the young readers in your life no matter what the age, race, ethnicity, or gender.We all need to learn, appreciate, understand, and embrace the history of America.Purchase this book because it's motivating, educating, and liberating!Thanks for reading 28 Days of Poetry Celebrating "Our" History.Be on the lookout for Volume II in 2008.

I could not put this book down.
I too am an author who likes to write poetry about Black History and I could not put this book down.It even taught me a few things.This book should be distributed amoungst schools, especially during Black History Month (February) and Poetry Month (April).

As you read each poem, you can feel Faison's pride as an African American come through.In this book, she cover's topics like Hurricane Katrina, and The Million Man March.She also teaches us about the accomplishments and achievements of people like Phillis Wheatley, Benjamin Banneker, and Charles Richard Drew just to name a few.If you don't know who these people are, I suggest you pick up a copy of "28 Days of Poetry Celebrating Black History", and prepare to be enlightened.

My favorite poems were, "Slave Questions", "Buffalo Soldiers", "Riding the Bus with Rosa Parks" and "I Thought I Was Free".Here are a couple of stanzas from my favorite of all, "Reflections Eternal".

"We built our hope on nothing less
Than God-given rights and His justice
Now we can stand proud and free
As we vividly reflect on our history

We've come so far, yet the road is long
As the struggle continues, we must stay strong
For each reflection etched in our minds
Is hope and power to survive these times"

Rhyming into the Past
Many times we try to find a way to remember important things that happened in the past; what better way than in verse?Latorial Faison's 28 Days of Poetry Celebrating Black History, helps to remind us of the important people that contributed to the African American history.

Each verse carried a piece of history, whether it was centuries ago, or a few years ago.Can you say that you know about Fatou, Benjamin Banneker, or Fredrick Douglass?After you read Faison, you can say that you do.The great thing about this selection of poetry is that it can be equally appreciated by children of all ages.

Faison's 28 Days of Poetry Celebrating Black History will give families something to enjoy together.I recommend this to anyone that really has a passion for poetry, and to parents that want to expose their children to new things and the people of African American history and poetry.


Jennifer Coissiere
APOOO BookClub
... Read more

Product Description
An account of the exploits of the African Americans known as Buffalo Soldiers, focusing on their part in the conflict between the Indians and the settlers. ... Read more

Product Description
The first regular army regiments of African Americans were authorized by Congress in July 1866, and African American soldiers have played an important role in the conflicts of their country ever since. These brave men fought not only tirelessly against the enemy, but also against prejudice and discrimination within the armed forces, striving to be given the chance to show their worth and fight for their country. Their efforts culminated in the integration of the armed forces, starting in 1946.

This book covers the history of African-American soldiers, from the American Civil War and their initial involvement on the western frontier during the Plains Wars, where they were nicknamed "Buffalo Soldiers" by their Native American enemies. It then examines their role during the age of "American Imperialism," campaigning across Cuba and Mexico before distinguishing themselves in the trenches of World War I. Finally, it examines their participation in World War II, where almost half a million African Americans fought and died for their country and the subsequent desegregation of the armed forces. Accompanied by color illustrations and rare photographs, the text chronicles the actions of these units, their uniform and appearance and how they were to eventually overcome discrimination and prejudice. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

More textbook then novel
If, like me, you thought this was something more than a textbook you will, like I was, be very disappointed.

I don't know what it is but, I've been trying to find a good book to read about America's Black soldiers and have yet to find one that's any good.This one reminds me of a schoolbook - lot's of dates and statistics but nothing meaty to read about.I'm thinking about trying the book by William Leckie, perhaps it will be a more interesting read.

At any rate, if you're looking for a good reference book, this will probably be a good place to start however, if you're interested in reading about life history, take a pass.

Useful But Limited Source
As a junior high school social studies teacher, I found "Buffalo Soldiers" interesting but frustrating.Reading the review above (about the book consisting of 3 shorter titles republished as one) explains something of the uneven nature of the text -- but it does not amend the faults.The coverage of African American military units is uneven (most badly regarding black sailors).The illustrations (both B&W photographs and colorful paintings of uniforms & equipment) are excellent.However, there are no maps (in a text that refers to many specific sites & routes on several different continents).I personally enjoyed the book, but I hesitate to recommend it for school purchase because of its limitations.The topic is too important to treat carelessly.

African Americans at War!
England's Osprey Publishing has a habit of taking books on a similar subject from their various series, combining them and then marketing that as a new product. For example, Henry Sakaida's IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY ACES was grafted on to his JAPANESE ARMY AIR FORCE ACES to produce ACES OF THE RISING SUN. Not all of these 'graftings' worked as well as the Sakaida volume. BUFFALO SOLDIERS combines three different Osprey "Elite" series' titles yet the combination produces a perfectly fine overview of African Americans in service to their country.

BUFFALO SOLDIERS combines "Elite" #107 BUFFALO SOLDIERS, 1866-91; #134 BUFFALO SOLDIERS, 1892-1918; with #158 AFRICAN AMERICAN TROOPS IN WORLD WAR II. The first two were written by Ron Field; the last by Alexander Bielakowski. Thus there is a consistency in BUFFAO SOLDIERS missing in other Osprey 'grafted' titles. Likewise all three were produced to the same standard "Elite" format of text, illustrations and artwork.

Whether you're interested in the African American experience fighting in the Civil War, campaigning against Indians in the Wild West, pursuing Pancho Villa, charging up San Juan Hill, battling in the Aisne-Marne offensive or piloting a P-51 on bomber escort, BUFFALO SOLDIERS will provide a good, basic, well-illustrated overview of those events. History buffs and students writing reports alike should enjoy this look at African Americans in action. Highly recommended.

... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

too broad in scope to be engaging
It's hard to criticize something this well-researched, but ultimately I can't get any reading pleasure, nor any useful gobbets of information, from this book. Calling it a narrative is a bit of a stretch. It's a recitation of facts and figures from the reports of the U.S. Army.

I bought this thinking it would contain anecdotes and in-depth descriptions of life in the regiments, in the barracks, on patrol. It doesn't. It's hard to convey how shallow the writing is. Many, many names are listed, and the actions of those names described, but they are never fleshed out or made into living, breathing people. The writer never brings his subjects alive for the reader, in part because he seldom spends more than a paragraph or two on any given person or incident before he has moved on to something else. There's no narrative thread to follow, no inter-relevance stringing paragraphs together. This is literally a table of data written into grammatically complete sentences.

Leckie cites all his sources and I have no doubt of the veracity of his research, but he tries to include far too much of it--too many years, too many men, too many missions. I would have preferred focus on, for instance, a single campaign, or a single fort on the prairie, as exemplary of the Negro Calvary's experience as a whole.

Valuable

This is another bittersweet book.It's kind of depressing.The author primary goal is telling us how the 9th and the 10th were instrumental subjugating the native people. This was their value and the primary job to remove the people by any means necessary in order to make the Plains a peaceful place for white settlement.At the same time these Black men were treated badly by being practically starved and frozen to death, given the broke down equipment, horses, inferior food, housing, etc.They were constantly chasing natives, with little rest.I admire the men,

This book is absolutely worth reading.However, I just can't bring myself to give it more than four stars.If the Buffalo Soldiers is a topic you are truly interested, I would recommend this book.It is a very good read though a little depressing.I guess when you read the true history of America it is depressing.I guess that why so many don't want to know.

This excerpt below brings to mind Paul Lawrence Dunbar'sWe Wear the Mask. He said"why should the world be overwise in counting all of our tears and sighs.Nay let them only see us when we wear the mask."I am sure an observer saw smiles, but I know my people.They had their mask firmly in place.

"While there they did not receive adequate shelter or clothing and at times were without rations.The men had not complained, however, and had performed their duties with customary cheerfulness. "

Truly Unsung Heroes
The Civil War was the first time Blacks were organized into Black-only combat brigades. They fought well, and in some cases, exceptionally well. But for the most part, except for the heroics of the 54th Massachusetts at battery Wagner outside Charleston and along the Mississippi Valley, especially at Fort Pillow, history little noted their service. After the success of the Civil War the experiment with all Black combat units was continued in the Frontier Army. Thanks to William Leckie the significant contributions of the 9th and 10th US Cavalry to the peaceful settlement of the Western frontier has not been consigned to history's dust bin but rather is captured here in an exceptional and quite frankly action packed work. Between them the 9th and 10th Cavalry earned an amazing 8 Congressional Medals of Honor.

In 1866 green, untrained civilians were enlisted in these units, the 9th under Edward Hatch and the 10th under Benjamin Grierson, both outstanding Civil War Cavalry commanders. After rudimentary training the 9th was headquartered at Fort Davis and for the next 6 years patrolled west Texas and the Mexican Border. Their responsibilities were to maintain law and order in western and southwestern Texas, between the Rio Grande and Concho Rivers from Fort Clark to El Paso. The 9th remained in Texas for eight years. The regiment subsequently went to New Mexico, covering parts of New Mexico, Colorado and Texas, and participated in the Apache Wars from 1875 to 1881. Their patrolling was astonishing. Out for months at a time Leckie indicates marches of 1,000 miles were not uncommon. Fighting Mexican bandits, border raiders and numerous Indian tribes, they also engaged Mexican revolutionaries that had crossed to the US side to rest and refit. After 15 years of service, almost all of it continually in the field, the 9th Cavalry was transferred to Fort Riley, Kansas in 1881.

The author appears to have had much more information about the 10th Cavalry.The 10th initially was stationed at numerous forts throughout Kansas and Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). They provided guards for workers of the Kansas and Pacific Railroad, strung miles of new telegraph lines and to a large extent built Fort Sill in present day Oklahoma. A very good work about this period of the 10th's existence is Carbine and Lance by Wilbur Nye. They were constantly patrolling the Kiowa and Comanche reservations in an attempt to prevent Indian raids into Texas and Texan raids into the reservations. In 1867 and 1868, the 10th Cavalry participated in Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman's winter campaigns against the Cheyenne, Arapahos, and Comanches. Units of the 10th prevented the Cheyenne from fleeing to the northwest, thus allowing Custer and the 7th Cavalry to defeat the Cheyenne at the Battle of the Washita.

In 1875, the 10th Cavalry moved its headquarters to Fort Concho in west Texas, today's San Angelo, where they protected mail and travel routes, controlled Indian movements, provided protection from Mexican revolutionaries and outlaws, and gained significant knowledge of the territory. The 10th scouted 30,000 miles of uncharted terrain, opened more than 300 miles of new roads and laid over 200 miles of telegraph lines. They played an important role in the Apache Wars, preventing Victorio's return to the U.S. by taking control of vital desert water holes along the Indians' route. It was an amazing campaign. To execute this campaign, the 10th patrolled literally thousands of square miles from the Van Horn Mountains west to the Quitman Mountains and north to the Sierra Diablo and Delaware Mountains, engaging in major fights at Tinaja de las Palmas and Rattlesnake Springs. These actions forced Victorio to retreat into Mexico. Soon after re-crossing the border, Victorio and many of his warriors were killed by Mexico's military. After 20 years on the Southwestern Frontier the regiment was transferred to the Dakotas in time to assist in the final battles with the Sioux.

These men were tough, no nonsense combat soldiers responsible for settling some of America's wildest frontiers. They fought Cheyenne, Comanche, Arapaho, Ute, Kiowa, Kickapoo and Apache Indians to a standstill. But these were not the only combatants they faced. Mexican bandits, revolutionaries, white outlaws, rustlers and, at times, the Texas Rangers all made for a hellish environment. Little wonder then that these men were extremely loyal to one another with one of the lowest desertion rates of any soldiers in this theater of operations. And as if all these contenders were not enough to cope with, they also periodically supported local law enforcement, effectively ending the infamous Lincoln County War in New Mexico.

This is a most marvelous read about a group of Americans that played a most significant role in settling the American West. They were men who left their country in much better shape than they found it. They were most selfless.

Two Proud Regiments
This is a first class narrative of two very proud and successful regiments of cavalry. It is obviously well researched.

The author nearly goes astray in at least two places by going off on a tangen but recovers quickly and gets back to the point. He certainly likes the word "deprecate" and by the end of book I wished he could have used a thesaurus. Also, he discribes their maneuvers as "marches" where in fact the 9th and 10th must have ridden as they were, after all, mounted soldiers.

The biggest fault, in my opinion, is the very ending. What happen to these two regiments? Where they disbanded and if so, what happen to some of the major figures? This interesting story seems to come to an abrupt halt without so much as a wave goodbye.

Excellent narrative of the forgotten west.
William H. Leckie's Buffalo Soldiers proves to be a well written and well researched book on the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments which were stationed mostly in the southwest section of the United States from Texas to Arizona. Both regiments were manned by black soldiers although officered by whites. Long forgotten by history, the book reflects on the valuable services these black soldiers contributed to the creation of our nation in that region. The book, I thought did a great justice in retelling this story that Americans in general have forgotten. The book traces the history of these "buffalo soldiers" (as coined by the Indians for black soldiers' woolly hair) between 1866 to 1891. The book covers all the military activities of these two regiments and provides insights to the campaigns and battles they fought. The book also reflects in part, the near unending forces of prejudice these buffalo soldiers had to put up with from the rest of the army and its civilian overlords.

As far as I can see, this remains one of the few books that gives a definitive accounts of the buffalo soldiers during this period. Only real weakness I see in this book was that it didn't give great details into the lives and insights to these black soldiers who fought so well. But the book is still worth reading if not for anything, to see how well men fights, if well led and well trained, against the prejudices of their own nation and against cunning and powerful Indian foes who ironically, was fighting for what these black men were fighting for, respects and equality. I will end this review with an ironic quote from the movie, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, "Men in dirty-shirt blue, only a page in history books to mark their lives. But wherever they rode, whatever they fought for, that place became the United States". Thus lies the legacy of the buffalo soldiers. ... Read more

Product Description
On April 2, 1917, Woodrow Wilson thrust the United States into World War I by declaring, "The world must be made safe for democracy."For the 380,000 African American soldiers who fought and labored in the global conflict, these words carried life or death meaning. Relating stories bridging the war and postwar years, spanning the streets of Chicago and the streets of Harlem, from the battlefields of the American South to the battlefields of the Western Front, Chad L. Williams reveals the central role of African American soldiers in World War I and how they, along with race activists and ordinary citizens alike, committed to fighting for democracy at home and beyond.

Using a diverse range of sources, Williams connects the history of African American soldiers and veterans to issues such as the obligations of citizenship, combat and labor, diaspora and internationalism, homecoming and racial violence, "New Negro" militancy, and African American historical memories of the war. Democracy may have been distant from the everyday lives of African Americans at the dawn of the war, but it nevertheless remained a powerful ideal that sparked the hopes of black people throughout the country for societal change. Torchbearers of Democracy reclaims the legacy of black soldiers and establishes the World War I era as a defining moment in the history of African Americans and peoples of African descent more broadly. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A very necessary & valuable book
[Reviewer's note: I have used Negro and Colored where I would normally use Black in this review.These men thought of themselves in these terms and I do so out of respect for them.]
Approximately 50 years after the American Civil War People of Color lived in an America we cannot image.The Civil War ended slavery and Reconstruction had given Negro males the vote.However, discrimination had taken most of the promises and many of the advances away.The majority of Negros live in the southern states under strict Jim Crow laws.They are a rural people careful in their conduct and subject to lynching for any infractions.America averages over 80 of these a year between 1882 and 1916.The great migration to the North is starting but major movement is years away.The North, while lacking Jim Crow laws, has customs that have almost the same impact.Discrimination is rampart and race riots are not uncommon.Negros exist in a separate and unequal America.Distrusted, hated and often exploited they do their best to advance themselves and their race.Lynching is not restricted to the South either.While not as common, Northern race riots occur often.
America enters World War I to "make the world safe for democracy" without considering the status of its' colored population.This cruel joke is not lost on the Negro press but practical considerations make it necessary to support the war effort.These considerations, the legal and social discrimination aside the majority of Negros were patriotic and supported the war.
The United States Army reflects the society it serves and protects.In spite of the experiences since the Civil War, the Army harbors doubts about Negros making good soldiers.The core of United States Colored Troops and Negro National Guard units should be all right.These are units with years of training and discipline.The draftees will not have these advantages nor will they be of the same caliber.Therefore, they are best be used as labor battalions.
This is a complex book.It is part military history, part social history and part commentary.The author presents a clear unvarnished look at America in World War I.This is not a pleasant picture.The Houston race riot, Woodrow Wilson, Army policies, training and white soldiers conspires against them.In spite of this, they continued trying to be men, soldiers and Americans.
The book is not limited to Negro units and their problems.The author expands the story to include the communities back home and the organizations serving soldiers.A secondary story involves American Negro units and French African units.This is a look at the question of race in Europe.Things in France are very different and can be very upsetting.The army's efforts to curb French/Negro contacts are a third story that could be a book.
World War I made a huge impact on Americans and changed their attitudes forever.Race was not a limiting factor as Negros saw a world of possibilities.Part II: Peace? Looks at these changes as America starts to face "New Negroes".The chapter "Lest We Forget" looks at how we remember or fail to remember these men.
This well-written book is a history of their efforts and a fitting tribute to them.I will not say this is an enjoyable read.Chad L. Williams is an excellent author, clear concise, descriptive and easy to read.He avoids the soapbox by sticking to facts and recollections of the people involved.What happens is upsetting, so much racism hate and violence is hard to take.This is a very necessary and valuable book.We have little on World War I and the question of race during this time.This book addresses both subjects.
... Read more

Product Description
Women in the United States military have received more recognition than ever in recent years, but women also played vital roles in battles and campaigns of previous generations. Cathy Williams served as Pvt. William Cathay from 1866 to 1868 with the famed Buffalo Soldiers who patrolled the 900-mile Santa Fe Trail. Tucker traces her life from her birth as a slave near Independence, Missouri, to her service in Company A, 38th U.S. Infantry, one of the six black units formed following the Civil War. Cathy Williams remains the only known African American woman to have served as a Buffalo Soldier in the Indian Wars. Her remarkable story continues to represent a triumph of the human spirit. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Lone Female Buffalo Soldier
I am thoroughly thrilled by the fact that there was a female Buffalo Soldier.I couldn't have been happier when I learned of this book.
I was not taught this in school and especially not anything about a Black woman.

Fact or Folklore?
There is greater awareness because of the magnitude of this book and
its message. And I'll wager that there are few Americans today, Black
or White, who know about the incredible life of Cathy Williams. This
remarkable story now has a voice.

Once a slave in Independence, Missouri, Cathy Williams lived and
worked in the 'big house' as a servant to its mistress. And though
being a house servant carried greater privilege and status than
that of the field hand, Cathy began to resent the menial tasks she
performed as much as she resented her masters.

After the death of her owner, and having the good fortune of not
being sold to pay debts, Cathy realized that the fundamental premise
of slavery was a lie and this life was not her chosen destiny. So in
November 1866 she disguised herself as a man, used the name William
Cathay, and enlisted in Company A, 38th U.S. Infantry and became a
Buffalo Soldier.As the first and only African American woman to
serve in one of the six black units formed following the Civil War.
Interestingly enough, Williams was able to become a member of the
Army without detection of her sex, and it was imperative that she
keep her true identity unknown. Her adventures took her from Missouri
to the Mexican border where she served for nearly two years. After
her military career Cathy did not envision returning to her roots in
Missouri, plus her heart was now in the West. So she married and
created a life for herself on the Western frontier, as a business-
woman in Trinidad, CO.

There is much contention surrounding the validity of Cathy's story.
Historians claim Tucker's only source about Williams' alleged service
as a Buffalo soldier is based on a newspaper account published in
1876 and that there are no official records in existence to
authenticate her Civil War service. Some believe it was easy for
Williams to get discharge certificates from the 'real' William
Cathay and pass it off as her own. And that 'Far too many of the
speculations about Williams are colored by a 21st century
"politically correct" perspective'.

Yet others offer a more positive analogy, "Phillip Thomas Tucker the
prize-winning author of The Confederacy's Fighting Chaplain tells
this remarkable tale of Pvt. William Cathay of Company A, 38th U.S.
Infantry, who in fact was a big-boned, 5' 7" black woman named Cathy
Williams. This is a unique story of gender and race, time and place.

Tucker's work is a recommended read that reaches across categories,
from American, African American, and military history to Western and
women's history." -- Thomas J. Davis, Arizona State Univ.

Regardless of the controversy, this was a fascinating story presented
more in the vein of a documentary than a novel and it allows readers
to experience a non-traditional, non-typical life for a 'Colored'
woman in the 1800's. Tucker uses this storyline to captivate and
educate, and he introduces a believable character who unknowingly and
unintentionally charted a course for the role of today's women in all
branches of the military. This story vividly brings to life another
chapter of our colorful history.

Reviewed by aNN Brown
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Review For Cathy Williams Book
I just finished this wonderful book....enjoyed it very much..One can see all the truly great research that went into this book...This Missouri Author Phillip Tucker has written about 25 Civil War Books..All have best good sellers...I would recommend everyone reading his books....Dr. AJ & Janet Canpbell

interesting and well written
I found this book to be interesting and very enjoyable. It is an example of how one woman turned adversity into her triumph. I would recommend it highly.

A Seriously Flawed Book!
This is a book that should, at best, have been an article in a scholarly journal or popular magazine. The great majority of the text is what politely might be termed "fluff." There is so little actually known about the subject of the book that the author has filled his pages with generalities and speculations to lengthen to story. The first three chapters deal with Cathy Williams' supposed service with the 8th Indiana Infantry Regiment, which is based exclusively on a newspaper account published in 1876. Tucker admits "no official record existed of her Civil War service" yet takes that article at face value and attempts to find support for it. One aspect of the tale should serve to show how weak it is. Williams claimed to have been with the regiment during the Red River Campaign in 1864. This was patently impossible because, at that time, the unit was home on veteran furlough. Tucker apparently did not research this or chose to ignore the fact since it contradicts Williams' tale.

Again, there is no proof that the person calling herself "Cathy Williams" for the newspaper story had, in fact, disguised herself as a man and served as "William Cathay" in the 38th U. S. Infantry after the Civil War. The woman whose tale was published might easily have gotten the discharge certificate from the real William Cathay and then claimed it as her own. Tucker's six chapters on the service of William Cathay are also almost exclusively "fluff." They are replete with "probablys" and "might haves" since not one scintilla of evidence exists to describe Williams' activities if she actually had been in the 38th U. S. Infantry. Far too many of these speculations about Williams' feelings and thoughts are colored by a 21st century "politically correct" perspective.

Finally, in talking about a doctor who examined Williams and found her in good health, Tucker writes: "It is possible that he had not served in the Civil War or in any Indian War like Cathy Williams, and felt that he was less of a man upon meeting a female veteran of two wars." This and other comments that follow reek of "politically correct" psychobabble and impugn the reputation of a man about whom Tucker knows nothing. He too easily points a finger at "racism" and "sexism" as the reasons for denying Williams' pension application, when the truth is that there simply was no evidence to support her claim. Oddly, Tucker fails to cite Williams' pension file found in the National Archives even though it is available to any researcher. His only source is a journal article about Williams' alleged service as a Buffalo soldier. ... Read more

Product Description
The Buffalo Soldiers were African Americans who served in the Regular Army between the Civil War and World War I and fought in some of the most difficult wars against western Indians. Examining their military service, their social lives, and their interactions with western civilian communities, it uses the words of the soldiers themselves and of contemporary observers, some friendly and some not.

Voices of the Buffalo Soldier draws on a wide variety of periodicals, military records, and letters. It covers such key topics as the legislative origin of the inclusion of black soldiers in the army, the campaigns in which the Buffalo Soldiers fought, their daily lives and interactions with white communities, the few black chaplains and line officers who were permitted to serve, and the bravery of some Buffalo Soldier heroes. All students of the frontier army as well as aficionados with a special interest in the Buffalo Soldiers will find this an invaluable publication.

"The first work that presents the correspondence and their primary documents pertaining to black soldiers' lives in the West."--Quintard Taylor, University of Washington ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An excellent survey of the black military experience on the plains frontier
Any military or black studies library strong in early American military history will find VOICES OF THE BUFFALO SOLDIER to be an excellent survey of the black military experience on the plains frontier. Records and reports provide source material of such service, with vintage black and white illustration adding visuals to the historic presentation.

Well written
I wish to thank Frank for his hard work. Knowing first hand how much time and effort it takes to compile such interesting episodes makes one hope he is rewarded.
LOL
Author, Charles D Ezell Sr./ Charles Dale ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

GoodOverview
Initally when I began reading this book, I was disappointed because it wasn't exactly what I was looking for.However, it's my fault.The title gave the contents away.You see I'm only interested in the Buffalo Soldiers - the Black Men.They are the ones that did all the work and others got the glory. I simply wasn't interested in the white officers.Many of them were incompetent and the Black regiments were stuck with them because they had political and family connection.

However, I decided to continue reading.After awhile, my knowledge was furthered by learning about some of the officers.It gave me more insight into what the men had to endure.

Much More Than History
Kenner's book is an excellent narrative which chronicles the actual experiences of the buffalo soldiers and the white officers who served with them. The book is a pleasure to read because it goes beyond the dates and battles, opting instead to recreate their foibles and shortcomings as well as their valor and heroism. It takes a true historian to give the rest of us glimpses into such humanity.

A superb narrative
Kenner's book is an excellent narrative which chronicles the actual experiences of the buffalo soldiers and the white officers who served with them. The book is a pleasure to read because it goes beyond the dates andbattles, opting instead to recreate their foibles and shortcomings as wellas their valor and heroism. It takes a true historian to give the rest ofus glimpses into such humanity.

Black and white in the 1800's
This is an incredible social history placed on the backdrop of the west.When most people think of racial issues in the American west, they think about White settlers vs. Indians on the warpath.Dr. Kenner's bookpresents a different picture of the West.His book focuses on the world ofwhite calvary officers and their "colored" soldiers.Dr. Kennertalks about issues from the fighting skill of these often forgottenAfrican-American soldiers to interracial dating to homosexuality.This isan incredible story, that no serious historian of the west should ignore. ... Read more

Product Description
Published, 1899.

(Excerpt:)
CHAPTER II.


THE BEGINNING OF HOSTILITIES.


A COLORED HERO IN THE NAVY.

History records the Negro as the first man to fall in three wars of
America--Crispus Attacks in the Boston massacre, March 5, 1770; an
unknown Negro in Baltimore when the Federal troops were mobbed in
that city _en route_ to the front, and Elijah B. Tunnell, of Accomac
county, Virginia, who fell simultaneously with or a second before
Ensign Bagley, of the torpedo boat _Winslow_, in the harbor of
Cardenas May 11, 1898, in the Spanish-American war.

Elijah B. Tunnell was employed as cabin cook on the _Winslow_. The
boat, under a severe fire from masked batteries of the Spanish on
shore, was disabled. The Wilmington came to her rescue, the enemy
meanwhile still pouring on a heavy fire. It was difficult to get the
"line" fastened so that the _Winslow_ could be towed off out of range
of the Spanish guns. Realizing the danger the boat and crew were in,
and anxious to be of service, Tunnell left his regular work and went
on deck to assist in "making fast" the two boats, and while thus
engaged a shell came, which, bursting over the group of workers,
killed him and three others. It has been stated in newspaper reports
of this incident that it was an ill-aimed shell of one of the American
boats that killed Tunnell and Bagley. Tunnell was taken on board the
Wilmington with both legs blown off, and fearfully mutilated. Turning
to those about him he asked, "Did we win in the fight boys?" The reply
was, "Yes."

He said, "Then I die happy." While others fell at the post of duty it
may be said of this brave Negro that he fell while doing _more_ than
his duty. He might have kept out of harm's way if he had desired, but
seeing the situation he rushed forward to relieve it as best he could,
and died a "volunteer" in service, doing what others ought to have
done. All honor to the memory of Elijah B. Tunnell, who, if not
the first, certainly simultaneous with the first, martyr of the
Spanish-American war. While our white fellow-citizens justly herald
the fame of Ensign Bagley, who was known to the author from his youth,
let our colored patriots proclaim the heroism of Tunnell of Accomac.
While not ranking as an official in the navy, yet he was brave, he was
faithful and we may inscribe over his grave that "he died doing what
he could for his country."....

... Read more

Product Description
In the decades following the Civil War, scores of African Americans served in the U.S. Army in the West. The Plains Indians dubbed them buffalo soldiers, and their record in the infantry and cavalry, a record full of dignity and pride, provides one of the most fascinating chapters in the history of the era.

This anthology focuses on the careers and accomplishments of black soldiers, the lives they developed for themselves, their relationships to their officers (most of whom were white), their specialized roles (such as that of the Black Seminoles), and the discrimination they faced from the very whites they were trying to protect. In short, this volume offers important insights into the social, cultural, and communal lives of the buffalo soldiers.

The selections are written by prominent scholars who have delved into the history of black soldiers in the West. Previously published in scattered journals, the articles are gathered here for the first time in a single volume, providing a rich and accessible resource for students, scholars, and interested general readers. Additionally, the readings in this volume serve in some ways as commentaries on each other, offering in this collected format a cumulative mosaic that was only fragmentary before.

Volume editors Glasrud and Searles provide introductions to the volume and to each of its four parts, surveying recent scholarship and offering an interpretive framework. The bibliography that closes the book will also commend itself as a valuable tool for further research. ... Read more

Product Description
An account of the stirring achievements of the black U.S. Army regiments thatdistinguished themselves during numerous campaigns and played a vital role inthe settlement of the American West. ... Read more

Product Description
Recounts the deeds of the 9th and 10th Cavalry, comprised of African American soldiers who kept peace between Indians and settlers on the western frontier, fought in the Spanish-American War, and pursued the outlaw Pancho Villa through Mexico. ... Read more

Product Description
Originally published in 1967, William H. Leckie's The Buffalo Soldiers was the first book of its kind to recognize the importance of African American units in the conquest of the West. In this revised edition, the authors further explore the lives of buffalo soldiers in the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry Regiments, showing that they were increasingly confident in their fighting ability and, above all, determined to prove themselves worthy of their newly entitled citizenship.

Before William Leckie's groundbreaking work, buffalo soldiers had been relegated to historical obscurity. Thirty-six years later, with sales of more than 75,000 copies, The Buffalo Soldiers is a classic. Now, in a newly revised edition, the authors expand the original research.

Written in accessible prose that includes a synthesis of recent scholarship, (I>The Buffalo Soldiers: A Narrative of the Black Cavalry in the West, Revised Edition, delves further into the social impact of being an African American soldier in the nineteenth century. This work also explores the experiences of the soldiers' families at frontier posts. In a new epilogue, the authors summarize developments in the lives of buffalo soldiers after the Indian Wars and discuss contemporary efforts to memorialize them in film, art, and architecture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Bittersweet
This is another bittersweet book.It's kind of depressing.The author primary goal is telling us how the 9th and the 10th were instrumental subjugating the native people. This was their value and the primary job to remove the people by any means necessary in order to make the Plains a peaceful place for white settlement.At the same time these Black men were treated badly by being practically starved and frozen to death, given the broke down equipment, horses, inferior food, housing, etc.They were constantly chasing natives, with little rest.I admire the men,

This book is absolutely worth reading.However, I just can't bring myself to give it more than three stars.If the Buffalo Soldiers is a topic you are truly interested, I would recommend this book, even with a three star rating.

This excerpt below brings to mind Paul Lawrence Dunbar'sWe Wear the Mask. He said"why should the world be overwise in counting all of our tears and sighs.Nay let them only see us when we wear the mask."I am sure an observer saw smiles, but I know my people.They had their mask firmly in place.

"While there they did not receive adequate shelter or clothing and at times were without rations.The men had not complained, however, and had performed their duties with customary cheerfulness. "

Excellent history !
This is a fascinating history of a neglected subject.The men who served really come to life through their stories - though I found the authors writing a bit choppy and sometimes dry.The subject matter however is very interesting and overcomes any writing deficiences.

This is a detailed mostly linear history from the advent of the black regiments throughout their history.I really enjoy that this book is a history not a thinly disguised political work - it's only agenda is history - and an honest one at that.In telling the story of these men from failures to heroism and going to original sources to see their fascinating views of service, white officers and of the native americans - it is a well flushed out history - and brings these men into focus as real men of American history - the good, the bad and the incredibly heroic.

An excellent read for those into Western history and the story of these courageous men.

Updates a classic originally published in 1967
The revised edition of THE BUFFALO HUNTERS: A NARRATIVE OF THE BLACK CALVARY IN THE WEST updates a classic originally published in 1967, when it was the first book to recognize the importance of Afro-American units in the opening of the West. This revised edition expands the original research to explore the lives of these soldiers in the 9th and 10th Calvary Regiments, using recent scholarship to expand and enhance discoveries and creating an eye-opening title recommended for any college-level or in-depth collection of either military or Afro-American history.

Thrilling Account
This was an absolutely thrilling account of the frontier Army and some of the bravest men to ever put on the uniform. ... Read more

Product Description
Black Heroes in Every American War There has scarcely been a battle in which America has not been served by the valor and sacrifice of what poets have called, "the darker brother". American has a history of forgotten black heroes, and a public that seems barely aware of their courage and honor. The first Buffalo Soldiers were the 9th and 10th Calvaries, formed by the U.S. Army in 1866 and composed mostly of freed slaves and Civil War veterans. The patrolled the Mexican border, and took part in the Spanish-American war and in the U.S. expedition to the Philippines. While it is regrettable that Black Americans should have participated in military actions adversely affecting native peoples, we must remember that not all the measures taken by the government were unprovoked, nor were all of them carried out with the ruthlessness we sometimes hear of. Buffalo soldiers and Black cowboys were merely one factor in the opening of the West. It was a job somebody had to do, and certain toughness went with the territory; the oppressive aspects, while not excusable, were indeed part of that history. During the Indian Wars, from 1866-1890, the use of Black soldiers was widespread in the West, and numerous engagements demonstrated the valor and toughness of the African fighters. Colonel Benjamin Grierson insisted to his superiors that the term "colored", which originally prefixed the title of the regiment, was demeaning and unnecessary. Ultimately, he prevailed, and it was dropped. Two all-Black Calvary regiments, the 9th and the 10th, saw considerable service; tow all Black infantry regiments, the 24th and 25th, were also much used. Stuck with a thankless job, it fell to these Black freedmen to garrison forts, quell disturbances, and generally keep the peace. Not infrequently called to put their lives on the line in the name of the United States government, these heroic Black regiments won a total of twenty Medals of Honor. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A book to avoid.
I actually have personal interest and knowledge in this topic but this book was a true disappointment.The majority of the book addresses things like the evils of slavery and experiences of being a slave, Lincoln is covered but there is very little about the life or experiences of the Buffalo Soldiers!There are NO in text citations which may be just a well because there are no references to speak of!The references consist of online sites for places like Fort Snelling and one listed as "Films about Native Americans and Black Americans in US History".The validity of this book is virtually none.I would not recommend it to anyone. ... Read more

Product Description
The Buffalo Soldier played an important part in the US Army's operations during the “age of American Imperialism”, between 1898 and 1916. These men campaigned against the Spanish in Cuba, Filipino insurrectionists on Mindanao and Mexican border raiders. They went on to distinguish themselves in the trenches of World War I, and the sum of two divisions of these Doughboys fought with the French Army and the American Expeditionary Force. This book offers a succinct history of these units and the campaigns in which they fought, and it highlights the African-American US soldier, his uniforms and his gear throughout this era in rare photographs and carefully reconstructed color illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Good Solid effort about some great Soldiers
If you want some good illustrated pictures of the Old Army Buffalo Soldiers, than this is a good starting off point. ... Read more

Product Description
On the Trail of the Buffalo Soldier presents carefully documented biographical information on thousands of black servicemen, giving the researcher not only glimpses of individual lives but also documentation of the variety of African-American experiences within and outside the army. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

ONTHETRAILOFTHEBUFFALOSOLIDERBIOGRAFHIESOFA.A./USARMY
THIS BOOK IS JUST WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR. IT'S THE START OF MY GREAT QUEST. ... Read more

Product Description
The 92nd Infantry ("Buffalo") Division was the last segregated (all-black) U.S. Army division and the only black division to fight in World War II in Europe. The few media references to the division have reflected generally unfavorable contemporary evaluations by white commanders.

The present work reflects an analysis of numerous records and interviews that refute the negative impressions and demonstrate that these 13,500 soldiers gained their share of victories under hardships no others were expected to meet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Crucially essential military history to know!
If anyone yet doubts the pervasive, pure UGLINESS and soulful destructiveness of organized, systematized, official racial prejudice in this Country and especially, historically, in our Military, with the attendant unquantifiable agony and alienation resulting therefrom, .... PLEASE read this book.... & its Bibliography.What one will learn is that racial hatred was endemic in our society and simply reflected, with incredible intensity, in our Military organizations.This is a most bitter 'pill' for us to have to accept and swallow! ... Read more