Celebrating Black History D1 • FEBRUARY 8 - 14, 2024 • THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN
African American Civil War Museum garners world record
Honors Black heroism during war By Andrew S. Jacobson Washington Informer
In a historic achievement, the African American Civil War Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., has garnered a Guinness World Record for having the most names on a war memorial. With over 200,000 names etched onto its walls, the museum has successfully highlighted the immense contribution of African American soldiers to the Civil War and their pivotal role in reshaping the nation. The museum has been a beacon of knowledge and remembrance, dedicated to sharing the untold stories of African Americans who fought during the Civil War. Marquett Milton, the museum’s historical interpreter, said its mission is to reveal the truth about African Americans’ involvement in the Civil War, dispelling the long-held misconception that they were merely bystanders in the struggle for freedom. “We shared an untold story, the number one American-kept secret about African Americans who fought in the Civil War,” said Milton. He emphasized the importance of recognizing the African American soldiers’ heritage “We made the best soldiers because we were descendants of soldiers that came over as prisoners of war,” he explained. Milton also weighed in on the Emancipation Proclamation, describing it as a government’s call for help to save the Union and shows the significant role
Photo courtesy of Washington Informer
Marquett Milton, African American Civil War Memorial Museum historical interpreter, leads a group of students past the memorial in Washington D.C. The “Guiness Book of World Records” now recognizes the statue for having the most names on a war memorial.
played by African American troops in this endeavor. “By arming us, we were the bomb because the idea was to turn us into the weapon,” Milton explained. African American soldiers served as valuable assets – providing intelligence and reconnaissance, conducting raids, capturing Confederate officers, and frequently acting as spies, guides, and scouts in the South. The Museum’s historical interpreter also highlighted the vital role played by
Black civilians during the Civil War. African Americans were not only on the front lines, but also filled essential skilled roles such as educators, nurses, launderers, cooks, laborers, and blacksmiths. Milton shared the comprehensive records and maps that highlighted the vast network of African American soldiers’ contributions during the Civil War. “The African American Civil War Memorial Museum is a critical lens into the history of our country and Black Americans’ contributions,” shared
At-Large D.C. Council member Robert White. White went on to point out that these soldiers were responsible for maintaining law and order in the South during martial law, effectively taking over the region. “Our stories are often lost or swept into a broader narrative that doesn’t capture Black Americans’ struggles and contributions. In truth, without Black Civil War See War, D3
Iron-clad courage Gateway Arch National Park to honor ‘Iron Riders’
By Alvin A. Reid The St. Louis American In honor of Black History Month, Gateway Arch National Park will host “Iron Riders: A Living History Demonstration” at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, February 10, 2024. The event, located in the education classroom in the Visitor Center at the Gateway Arch, features reenactor Kevin Smith from Missouri State Parks, who will give visitors an account of the trials and triumphs faced by the Iron Riders. In 1897, the Iron Riders, a group of 23 men (20 Black soldiers, also known as
Buffalo Soldiers, and 3 white men), journeyed nearly 2,000 miles from Missoula, Montana to St. Louis on bicycles. The trek was part of a U.S. Army experiment to determine the effectiveness of moving troops by bicycle. The soldiers endured conditions that would have daunted even the most avid modern-day cyclists including severe weather events, extreme heat, food and water shortages, illness from alkali poisoning and racism and hostility from residents. Each of the five states through which the soldiers rode – Montana, Wyoming, See Iron, D4
Photo courtesy of American Legion
Buffalo Soldier re-enactors Bobby McDonald, Ron Jones and C.F. Brown pay homage to a small group of soldiers from the 25th infantry regiment known as the Iron Riders during an American Legion tribute in Missoula, Montana in 2022.
Kirkwood Black Heritage Celebration on Feb. 17 Bus tours, event at Kirkwood Historical Society St. Louis American The Kirkwood Historical Society will honor Black History Month and the city’s treasured African American heritage from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Feb. 17, 2024. The Kirkwood Black Heritage Celebration will offer a range of activities and experiences highlighting the vibrant history and culture of Kirkwood’s African American community at the Historical Society’s Mudd’s Grove house 302 W. Argonne. “This event is for people of all races
and ages to come and learn about our roots,” said Kirkwood native Fonda Fantroy Richards, chairperson of the celebration. She told Kirkwood City Lifestyle, “We want Black History Celebration 2024 to authentically educate people about our experiences. On the day of the Celebration, Mudd’s Grove will be dedicated to immersive experiences. “We’ll have exhibits, rooms for advocacy organizations, sign-ups, and ways to get involved. Most importantly, the exhibits will explain how we can move
forward.” Fantroy Richards’ great-great-greataunt was Ellen Cook, once a slave brought from Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, to live in Kirkwood by Capt. Lorraine Farquhar Jones, a manufacturer and Confederate Army veteran.
Capt. Jones built a house for Ellen Cook to live in at 310 Rose Hill, which became her family’s anchor in Kirkwood. The day of discovery and connection includes: • Historical Bus Tour: A guided journey through Kirkwood, hosted by longtime Kirkwood resident and former Kirkwood City Council Member Wallace Ward, will explore landmarks and stories that shaped the community’s Black history. The ADA-compliant bus tour will depart from the Kirkwood Community See Kirkwood, D4