|
Title
|
|
Pride
of the Buffalo Soldier |
|
Artist
|
|
Shauna
B. Schroder |
|
Sponsor
|
|
Oliver
Investments |
|
Location
|
|
Corral, 1 East Main at the Bricktown & Downtown border |
Artist's
Description
|
Inspiration
for Design: Awareness, Education,
and Recognition
Until recently, the Buffalo Soldier
was grossly omitted from our history
books. In fact, although I graduated
from high school and college as recently
as 1988 and 1993, respectively, the
Buffalo Soldiers were never discussed
in my Oklahoma History courses. My
first awareness of these soldiers
was in the mid-90s - I saw a striking
poster series titled OKLAHOMA: NATIVE
AMERICA (published by the Oklahoma
Dept. of Tourism), one of which featured
the Buffalo Soldier. Other than online
research for this project, my only
other exposure to this issue was the
1997 TNT film produced and starred
in by Danny Glover. The film illustrated
their courage, reliability, and dedication
to service in the face of discriminations,
which included withholdings of basic
necessities such as food and clothing.
The Buffalo Soldier's Role in Oklahoma
History
Civil War - Battle of Honey Springs:
On July 17, 1863, blacks fought in
this battle alongside white soldiers
near present-day Muskogee. The black
troops held the Union's center line,
breaking the Confederate's center,
and giving the Union a critical win
that secured both the Arkansas River
and the Texas Road (the region's major
transportation routes). This ensured
the Union a solid foothold in
|
|
Click
photos for close-up
 |
|
Indian Territory - one it never relinquished.
The 9th & 10th Cavalry Units: A year
after the Civil War ended in 1865,
Congress passed a bill providing provisions
for black troops, what became the
9th and 10th Cavalry. The 10th was
headquartered at Fort Gibson and the
9th at Fort Sill. These servicemen
built Oklahoma's forts; fought bandits,
cattle thieves, and Mexican revolutionaries
(incl. Pancho Villa); policed borders
during the land runs; built telegraph
lines; settled railroad disputes,
and so on.
Buffalo Soldiers: The 9th and 10th
Cavalry units also played a critical
role in the Indian Wars of the late
1800s. It was during this time that
they earned the respect of Native
Americans, who coined the title "Buffalo
Soldier." The Plains Indians
felt the black soldier's short, curly
hair resembled the buffalo's sacred
mane. In addition, the title was considered
a comparison to the buffalo's strength,
tenacity, and fighting spirit. The
troopers accepted the title as a measure
of respect and wore proudly.
|
|
