Benjamin O. Davis Sr.: The U.S. Army’s First Black General
A quiet warrior. A historic first. In 1940, Benjamin O. Davis Sr. became the first Black general in the U.S. Army. With quiet dignity and... Read More
Week 1: Breaking Barriers in the 19th & Early 20th Century
Robert Smalls: From Enslaved Pilot to Civil War Hero and Congressman
In the coastal port of Beaufort, South Carolina, young Robert Smalls was raised in the home of his enslaver. By his teens, he had mastered... Read More
Buffalo Soldiers: Pioneers of Black Military Excellence
Formed in the wake of the Civil War, the Buffalo Soldiers were among the first Black regiments in the U.S. Army. Their legacy—built through fierce... Read More
Harriet Tubman: The Soldier, Spy, and Hero of the Combahee River Raid
Harriet Tubman, celebrated for leading hundreds to freedom through the Underground Railroad, also made history as a fearless soldier and spy. Her leadership in the... Read More
Lt. Henry O. Flipper: The Fight for Justice in a Military That Erased Him
Born into slavery but driven by brilliance and discipline, Lt. Henry O. Flipper became the first African American graduate of West Point. His military career... Read More