Buffalo Soldiers

In this episode, we focus on the Buffalo Soldiers, the first all-Black peacetime regiments established by the U.S. Army in 1866. We explore the service of the 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 24th and 25th Infantry, tracing their roles across the American frontier, the Indian Wars, the Spanish-American War, and both World Wars. The episode highlights their contributions beyond combat, including their work as early national park rangers and their influence on military training at West Point. We also examine the racial prejudice they endured, the recognition they were often denied, and the lasting monuments, stories, and cultural memory that preserve their legacy after the end of segregated military service during the Korean War.