American History Hotline

"Buffalo Soldiers: The History Behind Bob Marley's Lyrics with Cale E. Carter II" (September 10, 2025)

Episode Overview

This episode of American History Hotline, hosted by Bob Crawford, addresses a listener question about the Buffalo Soldiers—who they really were, what their legacy means in American history, and how their story connects to Bob Marley's iconic reggae song "Buffalo Soldier." Bob welcomes Cale E. Carter II, Director of Exhibitions at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston, Texas, for an in-depth discussion that traverses the origins, roles, and enduring impact of the Buffalo Soldiers, while decoding how pop culture, particularly Marley’s lyrics, has shaped public understanding of their story.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Who Were the Buffalo Soldiers?

[03:55] – [06:36]

• Definition:
  The term "Buffalo Soldier" generally refers to Black American soldiers who served in the regular U.S. Army on the Western frontier after the Civil War, specifically from 1866 to around 1898.
  • Quote:
    "So when most people tend to refer to Buffalo Soldiers, they are really referring to black American soldiers who served in the regular army on the western frontier in the aftermath of the Civil War." – Cale E. Carter II [03:55]
• Backgrounds:
  • Veterans of the Civil War continued their service.
  • Freedmen from the North and South, as well as formerly enslaved individuals seeking economic and social mobility, joined for adventure, livelihood, or stability.
  • Inclusion of diverse backgrounds, such as Afro-Latinos from regions like Mexico.

2. Origin of the Name "Buffalo Soldier"

[06:36] – [10:15]

• Etymology Debate:
  The label is commonly attributed to Native American tribes, but which group coined it—or the exact reason why—remains disputed among historians.

  • Possibilities include physical characteristics (hair, skin), bravery, buffalo-hide uniforms, or their perceived status as shock troops.
  • The soldiers themselves did not widely use the term until World War I, and often the name was more widely adopted by later generations in homage.
  • Quote:
    "Nobody can really pinpoint how they got the name or really why...What's interesting...you don't really see the black soldiers themselves really adopting the name until around War one." – Cale E. Carter II [09:14]

• Military and Historical Usage:

  • The U.S. Army officially associates the title most closely with the 10th Cavalry Regiment.
  • Historians broaden the definition to include the 9th and 10th Cavalry, as well as the 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments.

3. Roles and Contributions on the Western Frontier

[10:34] – [12:04]

• Primary Duties:
  • Rapid response to raids and conflicts.
  • Significant involvement in infrastructure—building roads, laying telegraph wires, guarding travelers and wagon trains.
  • Evolved to roles similar to modern park rangers by the 1890s-1900s (including supporting the early National Parks).
  • Contributions extended as far north as Alaska.
  • Quote:
    "Majority of their roles out in the western frontier was mostly infrastructure, like helping build roads, string telegraph wires, acting as an escort for wagon trains and convoys." – Cale E. Carter II [11:03]

4. Buffalo Soldiers in Popular Culture: Bob Marley’s Legacy

[16:05] – [19:12]

• Impact of "Buffalo Soldier" Song:

  • The song serves as both an entry point for many to learn about the subject and a source of mixed feelings among historians—some are frustrated it’s the only reason people know the history, while others appreciate its role in sparking curiosity.
  • Quote:
    "On the one hand...they kind of get agitated because, like, oh, that's the only reason why people even acknowledge that this history exists. But on the other hand...at least it's a way to introduce people that may not have been introduced to the subject matter." – Cale E. Carter II [16:53]

• Personal Musical Connection:

  • Cale credits hearing George Duke's “Buffalo Soldiers” instrumental as his first introduction, revealing the story’s broader resonance beyond Marley.

5. Historical Accuracy in Marley's Lyrics

[19:51] – [21:25]

• "Troddin’ through San Juan..."
  • The lyric refers to Buffalo Soldiers’ celebrated role in the Spanish-American War, particularly the Battle of San Juan Hill—where their actions brought them into mainstream American awareness for the first time.
  • Their contributions were even praised by figures like Teddy Roosevelt.

6. Buffalo Soldiers & Systemic Racism

[21:25] – [24:13]

• Treatment During and After War:
  • While stationed in the West, racism was present but tempered by the soldiers’ vital roles. Upon return to the Deep South for staging before Cuba, they encountered aggressive Jim Crow laws and frequent violent clashes with local authorities.
  • The soldiers commanded admiration within Black communities but instilled fear or resentment among White populations—especially given their refusal to adhere to racist social norms.
  • Notable Quote:
    "While on the western frontier, people would be racist. You only could be so racist to someone who you need to protect you." – Cale E. Carter II [21:40]

7. Legacy, Lineage, and Integration

[24:13] – [31:22]

• Continuation and Homage:
  • Later Black regiments, including those in World War I (e.g., 92nd Division, 367th Infantry) and World War II, carried the Buffalo Soldier legacy, both in spirit and symbolism (e.g., using the buffalo on regimental crests).
• Desegregation and the End of an Era:
  • After World War II, Army desegregation orders in 1948 led to the dissolution of the last original Buffalo Soldier regiments by 1951, marking the close of a storied chapter in military history but not the end of its influence.
  • Quote:
    "With the 24th Infantry Regiment...that kind of marks the end of the original Buffalo Soldiers." – Cale E. Carter II [30:58]

Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Insight | |-----------|-------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:55 | Cale E. Carter II | “They are really referring to black American soldiers who served in the regular army on the western frontier in the aftermath of the Civil War.” | | 06:39 | Cale E. Carter II | "The name itself is kind of widely debated...you don't really see the black soldiers themselves really adopting the name until around War one." | | 09:14 | Cale E. Carter II | "Some of us said...they refer to these men as buffalo...because they will be killed like buffalo, essentially, kind of alluding to their, their perceived employment as shock troops." | | 11:03 | Cale E. Carter II | "Majority of their roles out in the western frontier was mostly infrastructure, like helping build roads, string telegraph wires, acting as an escort for wagon trains and convoys..." | | 16:53 | Cale E. Carter II | "On the one hand...they kind of get agitated because, like, oh, that's the only reason why people even acknowledge that this history exists. But...it gives them a way to start asking questions." | | 21:40 | Cale E. Carter II | "While on the western frontier, people would be racist. You only could be so racist to someone who you need to protect you." | | 30:58 | Cale E. Carter II | "With the 24th Infantry Regiment...that kind of marks the end of the original Buffalo Soldiers." |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction to Buffalo Soldiers – [03:55]
• Name Origins and Adoption – [06:39]
• Roles on the Western Frontier – [10:34]
• Buffalo Soldiers in Bob Marley’s Music – [16:05]
• Spanish-American War & Public Perception – [19:51]
• Race Relations/Jim Crow and Military Segregation – [21:25]
• Lineage & Lasting Legacy – [24:13]

Conclusion

This episode bridges the gap between pop culture and complex history, showing how a reggae anthem can ignite curiosity and conversation about the nuanced contributions of Black soldiers throughout American history. Cale E. Carter II provides expert insight, humanizing the Buffalo Soldiers and honoring the legacy passed down from the 19th-century frontier through global conflicts, and into contemporary discussions about race, recognition, and national memory. If you only know the Buffalo Soldiers from Bob Marley’s song, this conversation reveals the rich, complicated, and heroic real-life stories that inspired those unforgettable lyrics.