African-Americans have served proudly in every great American war, including the Civil War, where their verve and valor led to the establishment of all-black regiments in 1866. These “Buffalo Soldiers” played a significant role in the military campaigns and settlement of the American West, and paved the way for African-American soldiers in future conflicts.

In a discussion of her book, Park University historian Debra Sheffer discusses the impetus for the earliest black military service – enlistees hoped to attain full U.S. citizenship – and its legacy, assessing the social, economic, and political impact from colonial times through the era of the 19th-century Buffalo Soldier.

Sheffer, a professor of history at Park University, holds a doctorate in military history, U.S. history, and indigenous peoples from the University of Kansas.