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nThisnis an actual, official holiday in the U.S., declared so bynCongress in 1992. And I bet you didn’t even know that buffalo could serve as soldiers, right?
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Actually,nthe Buffalo Soldiers were the U.S. Army regiments of AfricannAmerican soldiers, first formed on this date in 1866. The first of these regimentsnfought bravely for the Union during the Civil War. n
Actually,nthe Buffalo Soldiers were the U.S. Army regiments of AfricannAmerican soldiers, first formed on this date in 1866. The first of these regimentsnfought bravely for the Union during the Civil War. nn
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nnNoticenthat:
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nn(1)nThe regiments were racially segregated. White and black soldiersndidn’t live and fight together in the same regiment until the armednforces were integrated in the 1940s and 1950s.
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nn(2)nThe segregated African-American regiments often had white officers,nalthough there were some black officers even during the Civil Warn(Henry O. Flipper is one example). (Also note that in 1989 ArmynGeneral Colin Powell was appointed as the Chairman of the JointnChiefs of Staff, which meant that an African American general was thenhighest ranking officer in the entire U.S. military.)
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(3)nThe term “Buffalo Soldiers” was a name given to the blacknsoldiers by some Native Americans that they fought during the Indian Wars. The name couldnhave been praise for the toughness of the soldiers, or mere commentnon the soldiers’ curly black hair, but some historians think it was andisparaging racial term, meant to insult the soldiers.
(3)nThe term “Buffalo Soldiers” was a name given to the blacknsoldiers by some Native Americans that they fought during the Indian Wars. The name couldnhave been praise for the toughness of the soldiers, or mere commentnon the soldiers’ curly black hair, but some historians think it was andisparaging racial term, meant to insult the soldiers.n
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nnTodaynvarious groups will hold reenactments, dedications, and specialnprograms in order to pay tribute to the Buffalo Soldiers. There may be screenings of the Oscar-winning movie “Glory” (rated R), and the TV movie “BuffalonSoldiers” (rated TV-14). n
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nFindnout more…
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- Herenare some interesting illustrated pages about the Buffalo Soldiers,ncourtesy of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine.
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- ThenNational Park Service has an article on the Buffalo Soldiers asnwell.
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- AndnResources 4 Educators has gathered together a lot of links tonexplore.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nAnniversary of the introduction of potatoes to England and Ireland
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nIndependence Day in Peru
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nAuthor / illustrator Beatrix Potter’s birthday
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nOlavsoka Eve in the Faroe Islands
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