Latest news with #BuffaloSoldiers
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fort Concho celebrates Western heritage with upcoming events
Fort Concho will host two events in late July that celebrate two very important aspects of our shared western heritage in San Angelo. American Plains Artists Summer Art Show On Saturday, the fort celebrates National Cowboy Day at the American Plains Artists Summer Art Show in Barracks 6, starting with a light continental breakfast at 9 a.m. At 9:30 a.m., Laura Huckaby, curator at the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, will give a gallery talk on the show that features 55 paintings from the six artists chosen as the best by guests at last year's show. At 10 a.m. the Concho Cowboy Company will present one of their skits in the nearby courtyard. This event is free to all. The art show remains open that day until 4 p.m. All of the paintings are for sale with proceeds supporting the artists and Fort Concho. The event is part of dozens of programs across the nation marking the heritage and traditions of the American Cowboy on this day. Members of the Concho Cowboy Company lead young audience members in a pledge to be law-abiding citizens after the actors performed their skit, 'The Bank Robbery," at Fort Concho in San Angelo on Saturday, April 26, 2025. The fort's annual Frontier Day showcased aspects of pioneer life in the early days of the Concho Valley. Buffalo Soldiers anniversary On Monday, the fort and the Buffalo Soldiers West Texas Memorial will mark the 159th anniversary of the Act of Congress that created four all-Black infantry and cavalry regiments that served with distinction across the American West after the Civil War. All four regiments served at Fort Concho between 1869 and 1885 with the famed 10th Cavalry having its headquarters at Fort Concho between 1875 and 1882. Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronnie D Hawkins Jr, president of Angelo State University, will give the program at the memorial at 5:30 p.m., followed by an opportunity to view the fort's Buffalo Soldier exhibits across the street in Barracks 1. The event is free to all. For more information, call Fort Concho at 325-481-2646. More: Debris collection beginning in San Angelo More: San Angelo woman arrested, charged with murder in fentanyl overdose death This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Fort Concho to host Western heritage events in July
USA Today
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
What to know about Beyoncé's Buffalo Soldiers T-shirt and their complicated role in history
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter wore a Buffalo Soldiers T-shirt during her Juneteenth performance in Paris, sparking online debate over the group's complicated legacy in U.S. history. During her international stint, Beyoncé donned a shirt with images of the Buffalo Soldiers — African American soldiers who served in the U.S. Army after the Civil War, primarily on the Western frontier. As part of their service, they built infrastructure, fought in the Indian Wars, and later served in conflicts like the Spanish-American War and World War I and World War II. They also participated in violent U.S. military campaigns against Indigenous peoples during westward expansion and land dispossession. On the back of her shirt there was a long description of the soldiers that read in part, 'their antagonists were the enemies of peace, order and settlement: warring Indians, bandits, cattle thieves, murderous gunmen, bootleggers, trespassers, and Mexican revolutionaries.' It's unclear where the passage originated. Some folks quickly criticized Beyoncé's wardrobe choice, specifically making note of the the phrase "enemies of peace" in relation to Indigenous people. One fan wrote, "Beyoncé wearing a Buffalo Soldiers shirt, an American army unit comprised exclusively of African Americans that helped European and White American colonists fight back Native Americans and seize control of their land, is not the serve she thinks it is." Another questioned, "Girl why I wake up and see Beyoncé calling Native Americans defending their home 'enemies of peace?'" Meanwhile, one fan offered another perspective on X, "Beyoncé wearing a Buffalo Soldiers T-shirt isn't glorifying genocide. It's a nod to a deeply complex and painful part of Black history — one that involves survival, contradiction and power structures that never had our best interest in mind." "Yes, these soldiers were involved in U.S. expansion and conflicts with Native nations," the fan wrote. "That's historical fact. But we have to zoom out: These Black men were used as tools in a white supremacist system they didn't control." These regiments were primarily composed of formerly enslaved Black men. They were deployed to support the U.S. government, which often meant using violence to seize land, resulting in the forced removal and destruction of Indigenous nations across the American West and the U.S.-Mexico border. Despite their role in the military, these soldiers faced intense racism and systemic discrimination within the very army they served. Riché Richardson, professor and chair in the Africana Studies and Research Center at Cornell University, said it's important to acknowledge both the realities and complexities when it comes to viewing this history. "American history is very charged, to be sure," she said. "It's about understanding the long-standing contributions that people of African descent have made to the military, and it's not been a perfect union. I think the challenge has always been to help create a more perfect union, and people of African descent have, in some cases, been complicit with policies that are detrimental to other populations. So I think it's important for there to be an acknowledgment of that." Richardson viewed the Buffalo Soldiers shirt in the context of Beyoncé's background. "I find her as a product of what I analyze as the Africana Southwest, as a Texas native," Richardson said. "So, given the themes associated with this most recent album and the concert tour, I presume that she's embracing the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers in tandem with that." The Buffalo Soldiers' complicated legacy doesn't solely consist of their contributions to the United States' westward expansion. According to the U.S. Department of Interior, the soldiers also served as some of the country's first park rangers. "These dedicated men protected wildlife from poachers, built trails and forged a proud legacy in our nation's history," the department wrote on social media. Richardson said the criticism of Beyoncé's shirt was valid and important, but she advised folks not to immediately jump to conclusions about the singer's messaging. "My inclination is not to think the worst of Beyoncé precisely because of her investments and critical thinking and her efforts to bring public attention to so many issues," she said. Richardson emphasized the importance of viewing Beyoncé's actions within the broader context of her career and activism. "I think she's gone out of her way in so many instances to try to impact lives and make a difference," Richardson said. "She's consistently compassionate. I think people should not draw conclusions, especially without adequate information. She's a performer. There's performance art. There are all kinds of things. At the very least, it's a teaching moment from which everyone can learn." She said it's important to remember that a single image doesn't always reflect a full endorsement or clear message. "I think it's always important for us to have awareness of the messages that we send, but I wouldn't necessarily just assume that wearing a shirt is an indicator of an endorsement of any particular ideas," Richardson said. "Because that certainly isn't in keeping with what we see and know of Beyoncé." Beyoncé is in the middle of her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour, which is in support of her album "Cowboy Carter." The project, which features emerging Black country artists and country legends alike, became a catalyst for the renewed spotlight on Black country artists and the genre's Black roots. The album has challenged music industry norms and sparked important conversations pertaining to the intersection of race and country music. The tour spans nine cities across the U.S. and Europe. The grand finale is set to take place in Las Vegas on July 26. Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.
USA Today
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
What to know about Beyoncé's Buffalo Soldiers T-shirt and their complicated role in history
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter wore a Buffalo Soldiers T-shirt during her Juneteenth performance in Paris, sparking online debate over the group's complicated legacy in U.S. history. During her international stint, Beyoncé donned a shirt with images of the Buffalo Soldiers — African American soldiers who served in the U.S. Army after the Civil War, primarily on the Western frontier. As part of their service, they built infrastructure, fought in the Indian Wars, and later served in conflicts like the Spanish-American War and World War I and World War II. They also participated in violent U.S. military campaigns against Indigenous peoples during westward expansion and land dispossession. On the back of her shirt there was a long description of the soldiers that read in part, 'their antagonists were the enemies of peace, order and settlement: warring Indians, bandits, cattle thieves, murderous gunmen, bootleggers, trespassers, and Mexican revolutionaries.' It's unclear where the passage originated. Some folks quickly criticized Beyoncé's wardrobe choice, specifically making note of the the phrase "enemies of peace" in relation to Indigenous people. A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) One fan wrote, "Beyoncé wearing a Buffalo Soldiers shirt, an American army unit comprised exclusively of African Americans that helped European and White American colonists fight back Native Americans and seize control of their land, is not the serve she thinks it is." Another questioned, "Girl why I wake up and see Beyoncé calling Native Americans defending their home 'enemies of peace?'" Meanwhile, one fan offered another perspective on X, "Beyoncé wearing a Buffalo Soldiers T-shirt isn't glorifying genocide. It's a nod to a deeply complex and painful part of Black history — one that involves survival, contradiction and power structures that never had our best interest in mind." "Yes, these soldiers were involved in U.S. expansion and conflicts with Native nations," the fan wrote. "That's historical fact. But we have to zoom out: These Black men were used as tools in a white supremacist system they didn't control." These regiments were primarily composed of formerly enslaved Black men. They were deployed to support the U.S. government, which often meant using violence to seize land, resulting in the forced removal and destruction of Indigenous nations across the American West and the U.S.-Mexico border. Despite their role in the military, these soldiers faced intense racism and systemic discrimination within the very army they served. Riché Richardson, professor and chair in the Africana Studies and Research Center at Cornell University, said it's important to acknowledge both the realities and complexities when it comes to viewing this history. "American history is very charged, to be sure," she said. "It's about understanding the long-standing contributions that people of African descent have made to the military, and it's not been a perfect union. I think the challenge has always been to help create a more perfect union, and people of African descent have, in some cases, been complicit with policies that are detrimental to other populations. So I think it's important for there to be an acknowledgment of that." beyoncé wearing a buffalo soldiers shirt, an american army unit comprised exclusively of african americans that helped european and white american colonists fight back native americans and seize control of their land, is not the serve she thinks it is. Richardson viewed the Buffalo Soldiers shirt in the context of Beyoncé's background. "I find her as a product of what I analyze as the Africana Southwest, as a Texas native," Richardson said. "So, given the themes associated with this most recent album and the concert tour, I presume that she's embracing the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers in tandem with that." The Buffalo Soldiers' complicated legacy doesn't solely consist of their contributions to the United States' westward expansion. According to the U.S. Department of Interior, the soldiers also served as some of the country's first park rangers. "These dedicated men protected wildlife from poachers, built trails and forged a proud legacy in our nation's history," the department wrote on social media. Richardson said the criticism of Beyoncé's shirt was valid and important, but she advised folks not to immediately jump to conclusions about the singer's messaging. "My inclination is not to think the worst of Beyoncé precisely because of her investments and critical thinking and her efforts to bring public attention to so many issues," she said. Richardson emphasized the importance of viewing Beyoncé's actions within the broader context of her career and activism. "I think she's gone out of her way in so many instances to try to impact lives and make a difference," Richardson said. "She's consistently compassionate. I think people should not draw conclusions, especially without adequate information. She's a performer. There's performance art. There are all kinds of things. At the very least, it's a teaching moment from which everyone can learn." She said it's important to remember that a single image doesn't always reflect a full endorsement or clear message. "I think it's always important for us to have awareness of the messages that we send, but I wouldn't necessarily just assume that wearing a shirt is an indicator of an endorsement of any particular ideas," Richardson said. "Because that certainly isn't in keeping with what we see and know of Beyoncé." Beyoncé is in the middle of her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour, which is in support of her album "Cowboy Carter." The project, which features emerging Black country artists and country legends alike, became a catalyst for the renewed spotlight on Black country artists and the genre's Black roots. The album has challenged music industry norms and sparked important conversations pertaining to the intersection of race and country music. The tour spans nine cities across the U.S. and Europe. The grand finale is set to take place in Las Vegas on July 26. Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Buffalo Soldiers in Utah finally getting their due
'There's a mountain of history about these guys that had never been really tapped into, and we realized it was much broader than we thought — kind of like an iceberg.' That's Ian Wright talking. Ian's the manager of Utah Cultural Site Stewardship, a state program tasked with 'protecting and safeguarding Utah's archaeological and cultural heritage.' In simpler terms, they're in charge of preserving Utah's history. The office has been operational for a little over four years, during which time Ian and his second-in-command, Lexi Little, have discovered an interesting pattern that repeats itself: When they start researching one bit of history, they often discover another bit that's even more interesting. Such is the case with the Buffalo Soldiers — two U.S. Army all-African American regiments that were stationed in Utah between 1878 and 1901. Thanks to Utah Cultural Site Stewardship, these men who played an important role in Utah history are getting a chance to take a bow more than a century later. For our interview with Ian and Lexi, we're sitting in the Fort Douglas Military Museum on the University of Utah campus. Today, the museum's buildings house an impressive array of military artifacts and information dating from the current day all the way back to 1862, when Fort Douglas was first created as a federal military garrison. But back in the late 1800s, these were the barracks where the Buffalo Soldiers lived. The story of the Buffalo Soldiers — so nicknamed by Native Americans because their coarse hair reminded them of a buffalo's — is one of those cringe-worthy parts of American history, hearkening back to a time when even the Union triumph in the Civil War failed to put the brakes on racial bigotry. In 1866, a year after the end of the war, the federal government decreed that the U.S. Army would be segregated (and would remain so for nearly 100 years), designating that four regiments (out of 60) were to be composed of all-Black troops. Two of these regiments, the 9th Cavalry and the 24th Infantry, would be posted to Utah between 1878 and 1901, sent to keep the peace, guard the mail, protect the telegraph lines and keep the Native Americans in check. The 9th Cavalry helped establish Fort Duchesne in Uintah County, while the 24th Infantry was billeted, as mentioned above, in the barracks at Fort Douglas on the east side of Salt Lake City. The ironies and incongruities of this arrangement were not a few: Black troops, already marginalized, sent to help protect and live in peace in a place populated primarily by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — a people who A) had their own issues about being marginalized after being forced out of their homes in Illinois without much federal support and being invaded by the U.S. Army not long after they fled to Utah, and B) whose church restricted some of its membership rights from Black people. Not to mention the fact that Fort Douglas, home of the 24th, was named after Stephen A. Douglas, Abraham Lincoln's debate rival who had been a slave owner himself. But here's the part that brings a light to the eyes of Ian Wright and Lexi Little as they talk about the Buffalo Soldiers era in Utah history: The interaction seems to have worked out just fine. There were no race riots, no protests of any historical consequence. The role the Buffalo Soldiers played was, by all accounts, a positive one. The 9th Cavalry not only helped calm tensions with the Ute Tribe in northeastern Utah, but also (although this hasn't been entirely substantiated) helped guard the train depot in Price from a rumored heist by Butch Cassidy and the Robbers Roost gang. The 24th Infantry gained fame by answering the government's call to briefly leave Fort Douglas and fight in the Spanish-American War in Cuba in 1898 — charging up San Juan Hill with Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders. When the troops returned to Salt Lake City, they marched up Main Street in a parade in their honor. 'Not a lot of people know the Buffalo Soldiers were here,' says Ian, 'but they were everywhere. Every time we did research, they popped up.' Adds Lexi, 'It is a vital story that needs to be told.' The Utah Cultural Site Stewardship program has established a Heritage Trail that maps all the areas in Utah where the Buffalo Soldiers made their mark (it's 475 miles in length), and a website — — that details the history in great depth. There is also an audiobook available at narrated by former KSL Radio talk show host Doug Wright (Ian's dad). In short, if any of those Buffalo Soldiers were still around, they would no doubt be gobsmacked by all the attention. 'Our job is to safeguard all 13,000 years of Utah history,' says Ian. 'This was a gap, and we filled it.'
The Guardian
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Beyoncé faces backlash after wearing shirt with anti-Indigenous language
A T-shirt worn by Beyoncé during a Juneteenth performance on her Cowboy Carter tour has sparked a discussion over how Americans frame their history and caused a wave of criticism for the Houston-born superstar. The T-shirt worn during a concert in Paris featured images of the Buffalo Soldiers, who belonged to Black US army units active during the late 1800s and early 1900s. On the back was a lengthy description of the soldiers that included 'their antagonists were the enemies of peace, order and settlement: warring Indians, bandits, cattle thieves, murderous gunmen, bootleggers, trespassers, and Mexican revolutionaries.' Images of the shirt and videos of the performance are also featured on Beyoncé's website. As she prepared to return to the US for performances in her home town this weekend, fans and Indigenous influencers took to social media to criticize Beyoncé for wearing a shirt that frames Native Americans and Mexican revolutionaries as anything but the victims of American imperialism – and for promoting anti-Indigenous language. Several Native influencers, performers and academics took to social media this week to criticize Beyoncé or decry the shirt's language as anti-Indigenous. 'Do you think Beyoncé will apologize (or acknowledge) the shirt?' an Indigenous news and culture Instagram account with more than 130,000 followers, asked in a post on Thursday. Many of her critics, as well as fans, agree. A flood of social media posts called out the pop star for the historic framing on the shirt. 'We have to be honest about what they did, especially in their operations against Indigenous Americans and Mexicans,' said Chisom Okorafor, who posts on TikTok under the handle @confirmedsomaya. A spokesperson for Beyoncé did not respond to a request for comment. The Buffalo Soldiers served in six military units created after the US civil war in 1866. They were comprised of formerly enslaved men, freemen, and Black civil war soldiers and fought in hundreds of conflicts – including in the Spanish-American war as well as the first and second world wars – until their 1951 disbanding. As the quote on Beyoncé's shirt notes, they also fought numerous battles against Indigenous peoples as part of the US army's campaign of violence and land theft during the country's westward expansion. Some historians say the moniker 'Buffalo Soldiers' was bestowed by the tribes who admired the bravery and tenacity of the fighters – but that might be more legend than fact, said Cale Carter, the director of exhibitions at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston. Carter and other museum staff said that, only in the past few years, the museum made broader efforts to include more of the complexities of the battles the Buffalo Soldiers fought against Native Americans and Mexican revolutionaries – and the role they played in the subjugation of Indigenous peoples. They, much like many other museums across the country, are hoping to add more nuance to the framing of American history and be more respectful of the ways they have caused harm to Indigenous communities amid political pressure on schools to avoid honest discussions about the US's past. Simultaneously, Beyoncé's recent album Act II: Cowboy Carter has played on a kind of American iconography, which many see as her way of subverting the country music genre's adjacency to whiteness and reclaiming the cowboy aesthetic for Black Americans. Last year, she became the first Black woman ever to top Billboard's country music chart, and Cowboy Carter won her the top prize at the 2025 Grammy awards, album of the year. But Tad Stoermer, a Johns Hopkins University professor and historian, also points out that the Buffalo Soldiers have been framed in the American story in a way that also plays into the myths of American nationalism. As Beyoncé's use of Buffalo Soldiers imagery implies, Black Americans also use their story to claim agency over their role in the creation of the country, said Alaina E Roberts, a historian, author and professor at the University of Pittsburgh who studies the intersection of Black and Native American life from the civil war to present day. The problem, she said, is the Buffalo Soldiers 'were literally involved in not just the settlement of the [US] West but of genocide in a sense'. Okorafor said there is no 'progressive' way to reclaim the US's history of empire building in the west – and that Beyoncé's use of Western symbolism conveys the message that 'Black people, too, can engage in American nationalism.' 'It is a message that tells you to abandon immigrants, Indigenous people, and people who live outside … the United States,' she said. 'It is a message that tells you not only is it a virtue to have been born in this country – but the longer your line extends in this country, the more virtuous you are.'
