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Untold stories of the West: Community Arts Center exhibit celebrates Black History Month with Buffalo Soldiers Exhibit (Photo contributed / February 17, 2013) |
When you hear the words “Wild West,” characters like John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and the Lone Ranger spring to mind, galloping across the open prairie with guns blazing. However, the true American West was a far different place, where many cultures and walks of life struggled to coexist. The Community Arts Center’s Wild West exhibit, while celebrating the Wild West we know and love, also highlights these untold stories of the West, particularly those of African American soldiers.
In 1866, just after the end of the Civil War, the U.S. Army created a peacetime army and included six all-black regiments: the 9th and 10th Cavalry, and the 38th, 39th, 40th, and 41st Infantry. These peacetime soldiers were much-needed on the Western frontier, where they built roads, guarded stagecoach stations, repaired telegraph lines, guarded waterholes, escorted supply trains, and performed scouting patrols. Because of their vital role on the frontier, these men became known as “the peacekeepers of the West.”
The name “Buffalo Soldier” originated with the Cheyenne warriors, who admired the ferocity and courage of the black regiments in combat. The Cheyenne began calling these men Buffalo Soldiers, reportedly because their hair resembled that of a bison, an animal that in Cheyenne culture is a sacred symbol of strength and courage. For these reasons, the name was proudly adopted by the soldiers and has been used ever since.
The Community Arts Center’s exhibit features a Buffalo Soldiers display on loan from the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston, Texas. Museum Executive Director Captain Paul Matthews explains the organization’s mission: “to promote, preserve, and perpetuate the legacy of the men and women who fought, bled, and died for America. We want the world to know about their sacrifice and their story.” The display includes historic photographs, authentic Buffalo Soldier artifacts and uniforms, as well as a wealth of information on the important role African Americans have played in the U.S military throughout our nation’s history. Says Matthews, “the exhibit chronicles the African American military experience. Everyone should understand and appreciate the contributions that were made by these Buffalo Soldiers. They were standing up for America when America wasn’t necessarily standing up for them.”
IF YOU GO
Danville Pediatrics Presents: “Wild West!”
Buffalo Soldiers Exhibit
Community Arts Center
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
1-5 p.m. Sunday
Complete exhibit information as well as complementary activities available at www.communityartscenter.net
More info on the Buffalo Soldier National Museum available at http://buffalosoldiersmuseum.com/cms/
In 1866, just after the end of the Civil War, the U.S. Army created a peacetime army and included six all-black regiments: the 9th and 10th Cavalry, and the 38th, 39th, 40th, and 41st Infantry. These peacetime soldiers were much-needed on the Western frontier, where they built roads, guarded stagecoach stations, repaired telegraph lines, guarded waterholes, escorted supply trains, and performed scouting patrols. Because of their vital role on the frontier, these men became known as “the peacekeepers of the West.”
The name “Buffalo Soldier” originated with the Cheyenne warriors, who admired the ferocity and courage of the black regiments in combat. The Cheyenne began calling these men Buffalo Soldiers, reportedly because their hair resembled that of a bison, an animal that in Cheyenne culture is a sacred symbol of strength and courage. For these reasons, the name was proudly adopted by the soldiers and has been used ever since.
The Community Arts Center’s exhibit features a Buffalo Soldiers display on loan from the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston, Texas. Museum Executive Director Captain Paul Matthews explains the organization’s mission: “to promote, preserve, and perpetuate the legacy of the men and women who fought, bled, and died for America. We want the world to know about their sacrifice and their story.” The display includes historic photographs, authentic Buffalo Soldier artifacts and uniforms, as well as a wealth of information on the important role African Americans have played in the U.S military throughout our nation’s history. Says Matthews, “the exhibit chronicles the African American military experience. Everyone should understand and appreciate the contributions that were made by these Buffalo Soldiers. They were standing up for America when America wasn’t necessarily standing up for them.”
IF YOU GO
Danville Pediatrics Presents: “Wild West!”
Buffalo Soldiers Exhibit
Community Arts Center
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
1-5 p.m. Sunday
Complete exhibit information as well as complementary activities available at www.communityartscenter.net
More info on the Buffalo Soldier National Museum available at http://buffalosoldiersmuseum.com/cms/
