Talk:Buffalo Soldier

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The soldiers were Negroes, not "African Americans."♦OldBoerParty 23:44, 27 October 2005 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] "You People"

Wait, I thought it was Ross Perot who uttered that unfortunate phrase, not Colin Powell. - M.Neko

[edit] Slaves or not?

the article doesn't specify, were the original/early "buffalo soldiers" slaves? Were they forced to partake in wars? --Ballchef 08:34, 30 October 2005 (UTC)

Just FYI - many were former slaves, and most of the original group of enlistees were former Union soldiers in USCT (United States Colored Troops) units who fought during the Civil War. They were not forced to enlist, although once enlisted every soldier has an obligation to fight in wars at the direction of their commanders. This article really needs to be cleaned up and fleshed out. I've started the process, but there's a lot more needed.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 69.125.149.243 (talk • contribs) 14:01, 27 February 2006.

[edit] Does it really add value

To introduce this subject with "The Spanish called them 'Smoked Yankees'?"

I just don't see what value this statement adds to the article, especially in the opening paragraphs?—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 69.125.149.243 (talk • contribs) 14:06, 27 February 2006.

What did the French call them? How about the Portugese? Canadians? South Africans? Swedes? Irish? This statement in the opening section adds zero value as it stands. If you really want to keep this sentence, how about moving it to it's own section and expanding that section by including slang terms from around the world?

[edit] Gen Powell

As I recall, according to his biography, Gen Powell not only unveiled the Buffalo Soldiers statue, he spearheaded the project to create the monument. Someone with a copy of his book might want to add that and source it. SqlPac 22:45, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Re: Origin of "Buffalo Soldiers"

It may be nice for us to think that Indians referred to these men as "Buffalo Soldiers" out of admiration and respect, but this is generally disputed by Native Americans themselves.


I agree with the statement given by the anonomous user above me, who/what tribe originated this alias to the comparison of Afro-American infantry soldiers, and is there belief that the unknown Native American group significantly described them as Buffalo Soldiers for other bias reasons, as if describing them racially to their comrades? if so, was this a racial slur? --Andres Flores 00:01, 27 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] While in Britain

I seem to remember a story that, while stationed in England (near Bristol, I think) some black US servicemen were being given an unfairly rough time by (white) MPs. This annoyed the locals sufficiently for them to come to their rescue and see off the MPs. Anyone have a confirmation for this? Also, there's no mention of black airmen in the USAAF. Folks at 137 21:08, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

See also: Tuskegee Airmen ... OTOH, they were stationed in the Med theatre (North Africa and Italy) and were never stationed in England. —141.156.240.102 (talk|contribs) 22:09, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for the link: I've added it to the article. Your reply confuses me: are you saying that no black American unit was stationed in the UK or just that the "Tuskegees" weren't? Folks at 137 15:59, 13 October 2006 (UTC)

There was already a link in the article (in the See also: section). There were black American units stationed in every theater during WW-II, serving mostly as cooks, engineers, and other support personnel (somebody had to dig the latrines, service the KP equipment, fix broken vehicles, etc.), but those units all had white officers, with the exception of the 92nd Division (colored). I meant that the 332d Fighter Group was never stationed in the UK. --141.156.240.102 19:00, 13 October 2006 (UTC)

I recently read a book on African-Americans in the military and do remember reading of incidents in which English civilians came to the aid of black soldiers being unfairly accosted by white MPs. Similarly, there was another incident in which Nisei (Japanese-American) soldiers came to the rescue of some black soldiers in Italy. I'm not sure how to fit these particular incidents into the article, though. --Habap 16:37, 30 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] New pictures added

User Signaleer (talk • contribs) has added a bunch of pictures to the page ... Too Many, IMHO. Does this article really need two photos of them from the Spanish American War, especially so far apart? And what's up with the saddle & holster as the Very First image? —72.75.93.131 (talk • contribs) 17:20, 29 November 2006 (UTC)

I think that the pictures do add a lot to the article. Perhaps two S-A war pictures is a bit of overkill, but I think the article is far better off with the addition of the images. --Habap 16:38, 30 November 2006 (UTC)
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