NMAAHC Collections Search

Chromogenic print of the tombstone of Perry William Cloman

Created by: Unidentified
Subject of: Cloman, Percy William, American, 1897 - 1921

Medium: dye and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions: H x W: 3 1/2 × 4 3/8 in. (8.9 × 11.1 cm)

Type: photographs

Place depicted: Eufaula, McIntosh County, Oklahoma, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1980

Description: A color photograph of the headstone of Percy William Cloman, brother of Eunice Jackson. The gravestone is a stone marker, surrounded by browning grass and some leaves. Carved at the top of the gravestone is a recessed cross. Engraved below the cross is: [PERCY WILLIAM CLOMAN/ OKLAHOMA/ SGT CO M 65 PIONEER INF/ WORLD WAR I/ JUNE 17, 1897 March 19, 1921]. The photograph has curved corners.

Topic: African American; American South; American West; Communities; Military; World War I

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Princetta R. Newman

Object number: 2014.75.58

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title: The Princetta R. Newman Collection of Family Photographs, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Classification: Media Arts-Photography

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Broadside for "Men of Color" Recruitment

Written by: Douglass, Frederick, American, 1818 - 1895

Medium: printing ink on rag paper
Dimensions: H x W x D (framed): 95 × 48 5/8 × 2 3/4 in. (241.3 × 123.5 × 7 cm); H x W: 93 3/4 × 46 1/4 in. (238.1 × 117.5 cm)

Type: broadsides

Place made: Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1863

Description: Large three-sheet broadside promoting "Men of Color" to enlist in the Army; text printed in relief with carved wood type and cast letterpress/metal type. Text reads "MEN OF COLOR To Arms! To Arms!"
Transcription Center Status: Transcribed by digital volunteers

Topic: African American; Military; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865

Credit Line: 201Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2012.133

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements
Exhibition: Slavery and Freedom
On View: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 3, C3 053

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

French Croix de Guerre medal issued to Cpl. Lawrence Leslie McVey

Issued by: French Republic, French, founded 1792
Designed by: Bartholomé, Albert, French, 1848 - 1928
Received by: Cpl. McVey,, Lawrence Leslie Sr., American, 1897 - 1968
Subject of: 369th Infantry Regiment, American, 1913 - 1945

Medium: bronze, ribbon and metal
Dimensions: H x W: 4 1/4 x 1 1/2 x 1/8 in. (10.8 x 3.8 x 0.3 cm)

Type: medals

Place made: France, Europe

Date: 1918

Caption: Due to racial tension within the US Army, the 369th Infantry Regiment was assigned to the French Army for the duration of US involvement in World War I. Formed from the 15th New York National Guard Regiment and nicknamed the "Harlem Hellfighters," the 369th was the first African American regiment to reach the battlefields of World War I and the first Allied troops to reach the banks of the Rhine. Upon completion of the 369th’s service in the war, the regiment had spent 191 days in combat, the longest of any American regiment. In appreciation for their actions in the Maison-en-Champagne campaign, the 369th was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French Government for acts of bravery in conflicts against the enemy. In addition to this honor, 171 individual members of the 369th Regiment were awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honor. The 369th Regiment finished their service in Europe and returned to the US in February 1919.
Description: Florentine bronze cross patée, with two crossed swords between the arms. The center of the front side shows the symbolic profile of the French Republic: a young woman wearing a Phrygian cap. The words [REPUBLIC FRANCAISE] (French Republic) encircle the portrait. The cross is suspended by a green ribbon with seven narrow vertical red stripes. A bronze star affixed to the ribbon indicates McVey was honored at the regiment or brigade level. The back of the medal has the dates of World War I, [1914 / 1918].

Topic: African American; Military; World War I

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Gina R. McVey, Granddaughter

Object number: 2011.108.9.1

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Awards and Medals
Exhibition: Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
On View: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 053

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Socket bayonet modified with a hooked tip

Created by: Unidentified

Medium: steel
Dimensions: H x W x D: 2 1/2 × 20 × 1 in. (6.4 × 50.8 × 2.5 cm)

Type: bayonets

Date: 1861-1865

Description: This socket bayonet has been modified so that the point is curved into a hook. The letters "US" are engraved at the blade shoulder, just above the socket. The bayonet has a locking ring and bore socket typical of socket bayonets.

Topic: African American; Military; Slavery; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the Liljenquist Family Collection

Object number: 2015.222.12

Restrictions & Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title: Liljenquist Family Collection
Classification: Slavery and Freedom Objects; Tools and Equipment-Military

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

The Black G.I. Black Journal segment

16mm motion picture film of The Black G.I. [Black Journal segment]

Directed by: Garrett, Kent, American, born 1941
Produced by: Greaves, William, American, 1926 - 2014; National Educational Television, American, 1954 - 1970
Owned by: Bowser, Pearl, American, born 1931
Subject of: Bennett, L. Howard

Medium: 16mm Film (a): acetate film;
Dimensions: Duration: 50 Minutes; Length (Film): 1,800 Feet

Type: motion pictures (information artifacts)

Place filmed: H? Chí Minh, Thành Ph?, H? Chí Minh, Viet Nam, Asia; Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Asia; Arlington County, Virginia, United States, North and Central America
Place made: 5708 Arundel Ave., Rockville, Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1971

Caption: The Black G.I. is a two-part documentary episode of the television series Black Journal. It focuses on the experiences of African-American soldiers in the Vietnam War. This film features frank and open discussions from soldiers, ranked officers, and politicians about the racism that defined the different experiences black soldiers had in this war.
Description: This preservation 16mm color film is an hour-long documentary segment of Episode No. 22 of the NET (National Educational Television) television program, Black Journal; a weekly public television newsmagazine in the late 1960s/early 1970s that examined the many issues pertinent to the black American experience at the time. It was originally broadcast on March 30, 1970, and is believed to have been filmed over the course of 1969. Episode No. 22 of Black Journal was directed by Stan Lathan, while the "Black G.I." segment was directed by Kent Garrett. Executive Produced by William Greaves.; Contains: 16mm Film (a), Original 1,600 foot Film Reel (b), and Original 1,600 foot Film Canister (c).; 2012.79.1.51.1a: 16mm film. This film opens with a narration over images of African American men in the history of the US military. The first moving image section shows African American men fighting during World War II. The narrator discusses the irony of African American men fighting for freedom in Europe while not enjoying the same freedoms in the US. There are multiple shots of the Tuskegee Airmen. Eleanor Roosevelt pins (unknown) medal on African American soldier. Next, newsreel footage of Joe Louis arriving at an airbase and greeting black troops. The narrator then talks about the desegregation of the US military during the Korean War and points out the lack of black soldiers in leadership positions. Color footage marks the transition of the narration to coverage of the Vietnam War. Two African American soldiers in civilian clothing with soul power patches can be seen dapping. Series of brief excerpts from interviews of black soldiers play, each stating their position on being black and in the military during the Vietnam War. The narrator reveals the disproportionate percentage of black men who are killed in action versus their white counterparts. There are multiple shots of combat and post-combat footage in Vietnamese rice fields and footage of riverside villages. Two sailors patrol a river and discuss their experience in Vietnam thus far and what they'll do when they get home. They discuss their mission and how to be black while being in the military. A girl group performs at the USO in Saigon. Tanks and amored personnel carriers patrol suspected enemy locations along border with North Vietnam. Sailors on a patrol boat open fire at the river bank and a confederate flag can be seen flying from a flag pole on board. Black sailors discuss cultural challenges of being in the Navy and the lack entertainment geared towards black musical tastes of the time. One sailor talks about being disciplined for getting into an altercation after a white sailor ripped his tape player from the wall for playing soul music. The narrator reveals that an all white court martial found the sailor, Bobby Jenkins, guilty of assault, demoted him and docked his pay. A sailor relays that he and other African Americans met with the Assistant Secretary of Defense for civil rights to discuss their poor treatment and were promised changes by the Assistant Secretary. The sailors talk about how some local Vietnamese have adopted some of the negative perceptions of African Americans, which some black sailors believe they learned from some white members of the military. The sailors discuss how their hands are tied when it comes to standing up for their rights as sailors on a patrol boat dap and salute the camera with black/soul power fists. Air Force fighter pilot, John Bordeaux, discusses his personal experience of not facing the same discrimination expressed by other African American military personnel. Two black career Army officers, Davis and Rogers, discuss the systematic discrimination they've faced; in particular, they recall incidents of being passed over for promotions despite strong credentials. Brigadier General Frederick E. Davison, the first African American combat general, rejects the assertion that an African American who succeeds in the military is an Uncle Tom and discusses the many actions that the Army has taken to ensure equal treatment and opportunities. A cover of "Sittin' on a Dock in the Bay" plays over a montage of black soldiers in the field. A group of black Marines in a mess hall at Camp Hansen, Okinawa discuss the unfair treatment they've experienced, such as being forced to wear a collared shirt with their dashikis and not being allowed to wear their hair in an afro. One marine relates an incident in which they were violently confronted after returning from a USO show that primarily featured soul music. There is a series of shots of shops in Koza "Four Corners", Okinawa geared towards African American soldiers. Another group of soldiers discuss their dissatisfaction with being drafted to fight in Vietnam despite social and economic discrimination at home, and being harassed and targeted as being "troublesome" if they decide to attend country music night at local clubs. L. Howard Bennett, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, discusses how black soldiers complaining about the lack of soul music are expressing grievances beyond simply entertainment selection and dissatisfaction with communcation in the chain of command. He also states his opinion that black soldiers fighting for the US puts them in a better position to demand equal rights at home.; 2012.79.1.51.1b: Original 1,600 foot film reel.; 2012.79.1.51.1c: Original 1,600 foot film canister. The metal film canister has two sticker labels; each from a different film services company.

Topic: African American; Film; Gesture; Mass media; Military; Race discrimination; Race relations; Television; Vietnam War, 1961-1975

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Pearl Bowser

Object number: 2012.79.1.51.2ab

Restrictions & Rights: © National Educational Television

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title: Pearl Bowser Collection
Classification: Media Arts-Film and Video

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

The Black G.I. Black Journal segment

16mm motion picture film of The Black G.I. [Black Journal segment]

Directed by: Garrett, Kent, American, born 1941
Produced by: Greaves, William, American, 1926 - 2014; National Educational Television, American, 1954 - 1970
Owned by: Bowser, Pearl, American, born 1931
Subject of: Bennett, L. Howard

Medium: 16mm Film (a): acetate film;
Dimensions: Duration: 50 Minutes; Length (Film): 1,800 Feet

Type: motion pictures (information artifacts)

Place filmed: H? Chí Minh, Thành Ph?, H? Chí Minh, Viet Nam, Asia; Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Asia; Arlington County, Virginia, United States, North and Central America
Place made: 5708 Arundel Ave., Rockville, Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1971

Caption: The Black G.I. is a two-part documentary episode of the television series Black Journal. It focuses on the experiences of African-American soldiers in the Vietnam War. This film features frank and open discussions from soldiers, ranked officers, and politicians about the racism that defined the different experiences black soldiers had in this war.
Description: This preservation 16mm color film is an hour-long documentary segment of Episode No. 22 of the NET (National Educational Television) television program, Black Journal; a weekly public television newsmagazine in the late 1960s/early 1970s that examined the many issues pertinent to the black American experience at the time. It was originally broadcast on March 30, 1970, and is believed to have been filmed over the course of 1969. Episode No. 22 of Black Journal was directed by Stan Lathan, while the "Black G.I." segment was directed by Kent Garrett. Executive Produced by William Greaves.; Contains: 16mm Film (a), Original 1,600 foot Film Reel (b), and Original 1,600 foot Film Canister (c).; 2012.79.1.51.1a: 16mm film. This film opens with a narration over images of African American men in the history of the US military. The first moving image section shows African American men fighting during World War II. The narrator discusses the irony of African American men fighting for freedom in Europe while not enjoying the same freedoms in the US. There are multiple shots of the Tuskegee Airmen. Eleanor Roosevelt pins (unknown) medal on African American soldier. Next, newsreel footage of Joe Louis arriving at an airbase and greeting black troops. The narrator then talks about the desegregation of the US military during the Korean War and points out the lack of black soldiers in leadership positions. Color footage marks the transition of the narration to coverage of the Vietnam War. Two African American soldiers in civilian clothing with soul power patches can be seen dapping. Series of brief excerpts from interviews of black soldiers play, each stating their position on being black and in the military during the Vietnam War. The narrator reveals the disproportionate percentage of black men who are killed in action versus their white counterparts. There are multiple shots of combat and post-combat footage in Vietnamese rice fields and footage of riverside villages. Two sailors patrol a river and discuss their experience in Vietnam thus far and what they'll do when they get home. They discuss their mission and how to be black while being in the military. A girl group performs at the USO in Saigon. Tanks and amored personnel carriers patrol suspected enemy locations along border with North Vietnam. Sailors on a patrol boat open fire at the river bank and a confederate flag can be seen flying from a flag pole on board. Black sailors discuss cultural challenges of being in the Navy and the lack entertainment geared towards black musical tastes of the time. One sailor talks about being disciplined for getting into an altercation after a white sailor ripped his tape player from the wall for playing soul music. The narrator reveals that an all white court martial found the sailor, Bobby Jenkins, guilty of assault, demoted him and docked his pay. A sailor relays that he and other African Americans met with the Assistant Secretary of Defense for civil rights to discuss their poor treatment and were promised changes by the Assistant Secretary. The sailors talk about how some local Vietnamese have adopted some of the negative perceptions of African Americans, which some black sailors believe they learned from some white members of the military. The sailors discuss how their hands are tied when it comes to standing up for their rights as sailors on a patrol boat dap and salute the camera with black/soul power fists. Air Force fighter pilot, John Bordeaux, discusses his personal experience of not facing the same discrimination expressed by other African American military personnel. Two black career Army officers, Davis and Rogers, discuss the systematic discrimination they've faced; in particular, they recall incidents of being passed over for promotions despite strong credentials. Brigadier General Frederick E. Davison, the first African American combat general, rejects the assertion that an African American who succeeds in the military is an Uncle Tom and discusses the many actions that the Army has taken to ensure equal treatment and opportunities. A cover of "Sittin' on a Dock in the Bay" plays over a montage of black soldiers in the field. A group of black Marines in a mess hall at Camp Hansen, Okinawa discuss the unfair treatment they've experienced, such as being forced to wear a collared shirt with their dashikis and not being allowed to wear their hair in an afro. One marine relates an incident in which they were violently confronted after returning from a USO show that primarily featured soul music. There is a series of shots of shops in Koza "Four Corners", Okinawa geared towards African American soldiers. Another group of soldiers discuss their dissatisfaction with being drafted to fight in Vietnam despite social and economic discrimination at home, and being harassed and targeted as being "troublesome" if they decide to attend country music night at local clubs. L. Howard Bennett, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, discusses how black soldiers complaining about the lack of soul music are expressing grievances beyond simply entertainment selection and dissatisfaction with communcation in the chain of command. He also states his opinion that black soldiers fighting for the US puts them in a better position to demand equal rights at home.; 2012.79.1.51.1b: Original 1,600 foot film reel.; 2012.79.1.51.1c: Original 1,600 foot film canister. The metal film canister has two sticker labels; each from a different film services company.

Topic: African American; Film; Gesture; Mass media; Military; Race discrimination; Race relations; Television; Vietnam War, 1961-1975

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Pearl Bowser

Object number: 2012.79.1.51.4ab

Restrictions & Rights: © National Educational Television

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title: Pearl Bowser Collection
Classification: Media Arts-Film and Video

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Photographic postcard of Charles Wilbur Rogan with his unit in the Philippines

Published by: Eastman Kodak Company, founded 1889
Photograph by: Unidentified
Subject of: Rogan, Charles Wilber, American, 1893 - 1967; Unidentified Man or Men

Medium: photographic gelatin on photographic paper, with ink on paper
Dimensions: H x W: 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 in. (8.9 x 14 cm)

Type: photographic postcards

Place depicted: Philippines, Asia

Date: 1910-1919

Caption: Wilbur "Bullet" or "Bullet Joe" Rogan was a hall of fame baseball player who served with the United States army in the Philippines. Rogan played pitcher and outfielder in the Negro baseball leagues for the Kansas City Monarchs from 1920 to 1938.
Description: Photographic postcard of Charles Wilbur Rogan standing in grassy, hilly field along with eleven other soldiers. Two of the soldiers are manning a machine gun while the others look on. The back of the photographic postcard is unused and has [POST CARD] printed in black at the top and blank spaces for [CORRESPONDENCE] and [ADDRESS]. In the upper right corner, there is a [ARTURA] stamp.

Topic: African American; Athletes; Military; Photography; World War I

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2012.46.55.2

Restrictions & Rights: Public domain

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Media Arts-Photography

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Photographic postcard of Charles Wilbur Rogan with his unit in the Philippines

Published by: Eastman Kodak Company, founded 1889
Photograph by: Unidentified
Subject of: Rogan, Charles Wilber, American, 1893 - 1967; Unidentified Man or Men

Medium: photographic gelatin on photographic paper, with ink on paper
Dimensions: H x W: 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 in. (8.9 x 14 cm)

Type: photographic postcards

Date: 1910-1919

Caption: Wilbur "Bullet" or "Bullet Joe" Rogan was a hall of fame baseball player who served with the United States army in the Philippines. Rogan played pitcher and outfielder in the Negro baseball leagues for the Kansas City Monarchs from 1920 to 1938.
Description: Photographic postcard of a large group of soldiers, including Charles Wilbur Rogan, surrounding an encampment in a grassy field. The back of the photographic postcard is unused and has [POST CARD] printed in black at the top and blank spaces for [CORRESPONDENCE] and [ADDRESS]. In the upper right corner, there is a [ARTURA] stamp. There is also an alphanumeric inscription written by hand in the top left corner.

Topic: African American; Athletes; Military; Photography; World War I

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2012.46.55.3

Restrictions & Rights: Public domain

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Media Arts-Photography

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Photographic postcard of Charles Wilbur Rogan with his unit in the Philippines

Published by: Eastman Kodak Company, founded 1889
Photograph by: Unidentified
Subject of: Rogan, Charles Wilber, American, 1893 - 1967; Unidentified Man or Men

Medium: photographic gelatin on photographic paper, with ink on paper
Dimensions: H x W: 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 in. (8.9 x 14 cm)

Type: photographic postcards

Date: 1910-1919

Caption: Wilbur "Bullet" or "Bullet Joe" Rogan was a hall of fame baseball player who served with the United States army in the Philippines. Rogan played pitcher and outfielder in the Negro baseball leagues for the Kansas City Monarchs from 1920 to 1938.
Description: Photographic postcard of a large group of soldiers, including Charles Wilbur Rogan, surrounding an encampment in a grassy field. The back of the photographic postcard is unused and has [POST CARD] printed in black at the top and blank spaces for [CORRESPONDENCE] and [ADDRESS]. In the upper right corner, there is a [ARTURA] stamp. There is also an alphanumeric inscription written by hand in the top left corner.

Topic: African American; Athletes; Military; Photography; World War I

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2012.46.55.4

Restrictions & Rights: Public domain

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Media Arts-Photography

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Photographic postcard of Charles Wilbur Rogan in the Philippines

Published by: Eastman Kodak Company, founded 1889
Photograph by: Unidentified
Subject of: Rogan, Charles Wilber, American, 1893 - 1967

Medium: photographic gelatin on photographic paper, with ink on paper
Dimensions: H x W: 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 in. (8.9 x 14 cm)

Type: photographic postcards

Date: 1910-1919

Caption: Wilbur "Bullet" or "Bullet Joe" Rogan was a hall of fame baseball player who served with the United States army in the Philippines. Rogan played pitcher and outfielder in the Negro baseball leagues for the Kansas City Monarchs from 1920 to 1938.
Description: Photographic postcard of Charles Wilbur Rogan in sitting in a grassy field in front of a military tent and flag, smoking a pipe. The back of the photographic postcard is unused and has [POST CARD] printed in black at the top and blank spaces for [CORRESPONDENCE] and [ADDRESS]. In the upper right corner, there is a [ARTURA] stamp. There is also an alphanumeric inscription written by hand in the top left corner.

Topic: African American; Athletes; Military; Photography; World War I

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2012.46.55.5

Restrictions & Rights: Public domain

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Media Arts-Photography

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Program for The Negro Soldier

Distributed by: United States Department of War, American, 1789 - 1947
Produced by: Capra, Frank, American, 1897 - 1991
Subject of: Unidentified Man or Men

Medium: ink on paper (fiber product)
Dimensions: H x W: 13 5/8 × 10 1/2 in. (34.6 × 26.7 cm)

Type: programs

Place used: United States, North and Central America

Date: 1944

Description: A pamphlet for the documentary The Negro Soldier. The pamphlet is four pages. The first page has the title "The Negro Soldier" in the bottom right hand corner. Surrounding the title in six separate little sections are military and war photos depicting people and weapons. On the second page the heading reads "Exploitation." Below that is a list numbered one through eleven with varying titles. The third page is titled "Publicity." There is a small photo depicting a military man in a hat in the top left hand corner. The rest of the page is an article with three more small photographs in the bottom right hand corner of the page. The last page is titled "Advertising." Below the heading are four text boxes.

Topic: African American; Military; Race films; Segregation; World War II

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number: 2013.118.266

Restrictions & Rights: Public domain

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Letter sent to Charley Pride from Captain Jeff Wells

Written by: Captain Wells, Jeff, American
Received by: Pride, Charley, American, born 1934
Subject of: United States Army, American, founded 1775

Medium: ink on paper
Dimensions: H x W (letter): 11 × 8 1/2 in. (27.9 × 21.6 cm); H x W (images): 8 1/2 × 11 in. (21.6 × 27.9 cm)

Type: letters (correspondence)

Place depicted: San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, United States, North and Central America; Baghdad, Iraq, Middle East, Asia

Date: May 28, 2007

Description: A fan letter sent to Charley Pride from Captain Jeff Wells while serving in United States Army. The letter is handwritten in blue ink on yellow paper. In the letter, Jeff Wells thanks Charley Pride for making music that allowed him to temporarily escape from the war in Iraq. Also included are four images of Wells while serving in Iraq. The images are printed on a white piece of paper in landscape view (2012.125.76.1.6b). The images are attached to letter with a metal staple.

Topic: African American; Correspondence; Country (Music); Iraq War, 2003-2011; Military; Photography; Singers (Musicians)

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Charley Pride

Object number: 2012.125.76.1.6ab

Restrictions & Rights: © Jeff Wells

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Documents and Published Materials
Exhibition: Musical Crossroads
On View: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Peter L. Robinson, Sr.

Photograph by: Santee, Clarence Bruce, American, ca. 1883 - 1946
Subject of: Robinson, Peter L. Sr., American, 1892 - 1979; 92d Infantry Division, American, 1917 - 1945

Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions: H x W: 9 7/8 x 7 7/8 x 1/8 in. (25.1 x 20 x 0.3 cm); H x W x D (Image): 7 1/8 × 5 3/16 in. (18.1 × 13.2 cm)

Type: gelatin silver prints; portraits

Place captured: Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, United States, North and Central America

Date: ca. 1917

Description: A black and white photograph of Peter L. Robinson, Sr. in uniform. Robinson is depicted in salute in front of the exterior of a building. His rifle is to his right, propped against the building. In the lower left of the photograph [Photo by Santee KC MO] is visible in white.

Topic: African American; Military; Photography; World War I

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Peter L. Robinson, Jr. and Marie Robinson Johnson

Object number: 2010.18.1

Restrictions & Rights: Public Domain

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification: Media Arts-Photography

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

The Black G.I. Black Journal segment

16mm motion picture film of The Black G.I. [Black Journal segment]

Directed by: Garrett, Kent, American, born 1941
Produced by: Greaves, William, American, 1926 - 2014; National Educational Television, American, 1954 - 1970
Owned by: Bowser, Pearl, American, born 1931
Subject of: Bennett, L. Howard

Medium: 16mm Film (a): acetate film;
Dimensions: Duration: 50 Minutes; Length (Film): 1,800 Feet

Type: motion pictures (information artifacts)

Place filmed: H? Chí Minh, Thành Ph?, H? Chí Minh, Viet Nam, Asia; Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Asia; Arlington County, Virginia, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1971

Caption: The Black G.I. is a two-part documentary episode of the television series Black Journal. It focuses on the experiences of African-American soldiers in the Vietnam War. This film features frank and open discussions from soldiers, ranked officers, and politicians about the racism that defined the different experiences black soldiers had in this war.
Description: This 16mm color film is an hour-long documentary segment of Episode No. 22 of the NET (National Educational Television) television program, Black Journal; a weekly public television newsmagazine in the late 1960s/early 1970s that examined the many issues pertinent to the black American experience at the time. It was originally broadcast on March 30, 1970, and is believed to have been filmed over the course of 1969. Episode No. 22 of Black Journal was directed by Stan Lathan, while the "Black G.I." segment was directed by Kent Garrett. Executive Produced by William Greaves.; Contains: 16mm Film (a), Original 1,600 foot Film Reel (b), and Original 1,600 foot Film Canister (c).; 2012.79.1.51.1a: 16mm film. This film opens with a narration over images of African American men in the history of the US military. The first moving image section shows African American men fighting during World War II. The narrator discusses the irony of African American men fighting for freedom in Europe while not enjoying the same freedoms in the US. There are multiple shots of the Tuskegee Airmen. Eleanor Roosevelt pins (unknown) medal on African American soldier. Next, newsreel footage of Joe Louis arriving at an airbase and greeting black troops. The narrator then talks about the desegregation of the US military during the Korean War and points out the lack of black soldiers in leadership positions. Color footage marks the transition of the narration to coverage of the Vietnam War. Two African American soldiers in civilian clothing with soul power patches can be seen dapping. Series of brief excerpts from interviews of black soldiers play, each stating their position on being black and in the military during the Vietnam War. The narrator reveals the disproportionate percentage of black men who are killed in action versus their white counterparts. There are multiple shots of combat and post-combat footage in Vietnamese rice fields and footage of riverside villages. Two sailors patrol a river and discuss their experience in Vietnam thus far and what they'll do when they get home. They discuss their mission and how to be black while being in the military. A girl group performs at the USO in Saigon. Tanks and amored personnel carriers patrol suspected enemy locations along border with North Vietnam. Sailors on a patrol boat open fire at the river bank and a confederate flag can be seen flying from a flag pole on board. Black sailors discuss cultural challenges of being in the Navy and the lack entertainment geared towards black musical tastes of the time. One sailor talks about being disciplined for getting into an altercation after a white sailor ripped his tape player from the wall for playing soul music. The narrator reveals that an all white court martial found the sailor, Bobby Jenkins, guilty of assault, demoted him and docked his pay. A sailor relays that he and other African Americans met with the Assistant Secretary of Defense for civil rights to discuss their poor treatment and were promised changes by the Assistant Secretary. The sailors talk about how some local Vietnamese have adopted some of the negative perceptions of African Americans, which some black sailors believe they learned from some white members of the military. The sailors discuss how their hands are tied when it comes to standing up for their rights as sailors on a patrol boat dap and salute the camera with black/soul power fists. Air Force fighter pilot, John Bordeaux, discusses his personal experience of not facing the same discrimination expressed by other African American military personnel. Two black career Army officers, Davis and Rogers, discuss the systematic discrimination they've faced; in particular, they recall incidents of being passed over for promotions despite strong credentials. Brigadier General Frederick E. Davison, the first African American combat general, rejects the assertion that an African American who succeeds in the military is an Uncle Tom and discusses the many actions that the Army has taken to ensure equal treatment and opportunities. A cover of "Sittin' on a Dock in the Bay" plays over a montage of black soldiers in the field. A group of black Marines in a mess hall at Camp Hansen, Okinawa discuss the unfair treatment they've experienced, such as being forced to wear a collared shirt with their dashikis and not being allowed to wear their hair in an afro. One marine relates an incident in which they were violently confronted after returning from a USO show that primarily featured soul music. There is a series of shots of shops in Koza "Four Corners", Okinawa geared towards African American soldiers. Another group of soldiers discuss their dissatisfaction with being drafted to fight in Vietnam despite social and economic discrimination at home, and being harassed and targeted as being "troublesome" if they decide to attend country music night at local clubs. L. Howard Bennett, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, discusses how black soldiers complaining about the lack of soul music are expressing grievances beyond simply entertainment selection and dissatisfaction with communcation in the chain of command. He also states his opinion that black soldiers fighting for the US puts them in a better position to demand equal rights at home.; 2012.79.1.51.1b: Original 1,600 foot film reel.; 2012.79.1.51.1c: Original 1,600 foot film canister. The metal film canister has two sticker labels; each from a different film services company.

Topic: African American; Film; Gesture; Mass media; Military; Race discrimination; Race relations; Television; Vietnam War, 1961-1975

Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Pearl Bowser

Object number: 2012.79.1.51.1a

Restrictions & Rights: © National Educational Television

See more items in: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Collection title: Pearl Bowser Collection
Classification: Media Arts-Film and Video

Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

The Wounded Scout. A Friend In The Swamp.

Created by: Rogers, John, American, 1829 - 1904

Medium: paint on plaster
Dimensions: 22 1/8 x 11 1/8 x 8 1/4 in. (56.2 x 28.3 x 21 cm)

Type: sculpture

Place made: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Date: 1864

Description: A cast and painted plaster sculptural group depicting an escaped enslaved man helping a wounded Union soldier. This genre scene depicts an injured soldier leaning against the formerly enslaved man, his head resting on the other man's shoulder. The soldier's right arm is wrapped in a tourniquet and hangs limply at his side. The formerly enslaved man stands tall, looking off into the distance, while he holds the scout's left arm and guides him forward with his right arm supporting the soldier's waist. The scout has a mustache and is in uniform, wearing a jacket and boots with a bag, cartridge box and a canteen, while the formerly enslaved man is bearded and barefoot, and is wearing a shirt tucked into pants, both of which are torn and tattered. The men are walking through long grasses and swamp plants. Next to the formerly enslaved man's left foot is a copperhead snake coiled to strike. At the front of the sculpture base is etched: [JOHN ROGERS / NEW YORK / THE WOUNDED SCOUT. / A FRIEND IN THE SWAMP.]. Inscribed on the verso of the base is: [PATENTED JUNE 28 1864]. On the bottom of the base is an incomplete inscription [REK].

Topic: African American; Antislavery; Art; Emancipation; Military; Politics (Practical); Race relations; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865