For Race and Country: Buffalo Soldiers in California is based on the California African American Museum exhibition of the same name, curated by Susan D. Anderson. The exhibition’s title is derived from the inscription on a 1919 photographic portrait of then-Col. Young, “Yours for Race and Country.” This double loyalty, to his people and his nation, exemplifies the conflicts faced by African American soldiers during a time of government-imposed racial segregation. The exhibition also reveals the role played by Black soldiers in the Army’s history of violence against Native American people, and it presents debates in the Black community over participation in imperialist wars. Today, Buffalo Soldiers are mainly known through legend and popular culture. For Race and Country goes beyond simplistic portrayals, providing a vehicle for the voices of the soldiers themselves.
For Race and Country: Buffalo Soldiers in California is based on the California African American Museum exhibition of the same name, curated by Susan D. Anderson, and tours through Exhibit Envoy.
African American regimental band, c. 1917- 1918. Library of Congress 2017648701.