The Legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers

I recently visited Ft. Leavenworth, an historic military installation in Kansas, and observed the statues commemorating the heroic Buffalo Soldiers. You may be familiar with the name from your studies. Or, more likely, you've danced to the Bob Marley commemorative song. You may have also seen movies like Spike Lees Miracle at St. Anna which profiled the Soldiers in a action-packed docudrama. But, do you really know why we celebrate their collective contributions? In the spirit of celebrating Black History month, here's a little history that I learned during my visit.

Buffalo Soldiers were originally members of the 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army. They were formed on September 21, 1866 at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, but the name became associated with all of the black regiments formed in those early years. Best known for fighting the Indian Wars alongside the U.S. Cavalry, the Buffalo Soldiers saw action in the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, and the Korean conflict.

Legend has it that Buffalo Soldiers got their name from Cheyenne warriors who, in their language, called them Wild Buffalo out of respect for their fierce fighting abilities. More than a tale of military might, the Buffalo Soldiers made a significant cultural impact. According to Howard University Professor Rayford Logan, they were a symbol of hope:

"Negros had little at the turn of the century to help us sustain our faith in ourselves except the pride that we took in the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry, the Twenty-Fourth and Twenty Fifth Infantry. They were our Ralph Bunche, Marian Anderson, Joe Louis and Jackie Robinson.

During the Westward Migration, the Buffalo Soldiers were instrumental in the U.S. Expansion to the West. They protected settlers and built roads. They were among the first National Park Rangers. In fact, the popular 'Smokey The Bear' hat originated with them and their uniform.

The legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers inspired African-American service men and women throughout history. Former Secretary of State, and retired four-star general in the U.S. Army, Colin Powell, noted at a 2014 ceremony honoring their accomplishments:

Theirs was a time of Jim Crow, of lynching, the lie of separate but equal. But they knew that if they performed, if they did their best for their country, sooner or later their country would do its best for them and for those who came after.

At a pivot point in U.S. history, where the opportunities and challenges of the era of the new frontier marked a new growth agenda for the United States, the Buffalo Soldiers represented courageous leadership, resilience, and innovation--in the hateful context of oppression, discrimination, and unappreciated sacrifice. Nevertheless, the foundation of this country has been built by a wide variety of extraordinary contributors, including the Soldiers, and demonstrates our complex journey to the world's greatest democracy.

Jason Wingard, Ph.D. is Dean and Professor of the School of Professional Studies at Columbia University. He is a leading academic and executive in the areas of leadership development, professional learning, and human capital management.