Who were the Buffalo Soldiers?

The Spanish American War

In 1898, the U.S.S. Maine blew up in Havana Harbor in Cuba.

The U.S. used the even to declare war against Spain (protectorate of Cuba)

Thousands of Buffalo Soldiers were among the first to enlist in war effort against Spain.

Research Question: Should the Buffalo Soldiers have enlisted?

Questions to consider

1. Reasons for the war?

2. Treatment of black soldiers?

3. Role of black soldiers in the war?

4. Outcome of the war?

5. Gains/losses of black soldiers?

“It is the consensus of opinion with the majority of Negroes who are opposed to the present treatment of the Negro in the United States that any black man who enlists to fight the Filipinos is perfectly satisfied with the abuse heaped upon him in this country.”

Chicago Broad Ax 1899

Research Textbook pages 511-

520. Video clips from

United Streaming. Bob Marley song

lyrics. Ronald Hull poem. Quotes from black

media in 1898-1899. Honorable Duty

reading