Tag Archives: African American military history

Ebony Doughboys-WWI Re-enactors- New York Historical Society

The Ebony Doughboys were pleased to participate in a WWI Living History exhibit at the New York Historical Society representing the 369th Infantry commonly known as the “Harlem Hellfighters” The 369th Infantry was formerly known as the 15th New York National Guard based in Harlem NYC.

This famous unit of majority African American soldiers had one of the best combat records of any infantry unit that served in France during the great war.

For more information on this famous combat unit click: www.ebonydoughboys.org

Ebony Doughboys-WWI Reenactors-African American Doctors of WWI

 

April 29, 2017 Black WW1 Doctors Visit Raleigh’s Pope House Museum The Ebony Doughboys Participate in the “Black Pioneers in Uniform” Program: For years, the legacy of African American World War One servicemen has largely been unsung, least of all the stories of those doctors who volunteered to be medical officers. However, this is slowly changing. Black Pioneers in Uniform: Shaw University’s Leonard Medical School & the Great War is a new living-history event hosted by the Pope House Museum to commemorate those Leonard graduates who became medical officers, including the community that nurtured them, and the life of Dr. Manassas Thomas Pope. Many of them were taught by Dr. Pope, who was himself a veteran of the Spanish-American War, Raleigh’s first licensed African American physician and a bold civic leader who ran for mayor in 1919. Today his home, acquired by the City of Raleigh in 2011, stands anachronistically in the central business district, an artifact of the then-black residential Fourth Ward and testimony to his influence.

By the turn of the 20th century, only three Historically Black Colleges and Universities had medical programs: Meharry in Nashville; Howard in Washington, DC; and Leonard at Shaw University in Raleigh. Leonard Medical was the first, opening in 1880, yet due to rising costs closed in 1919. However during this period, it produced 400 physicians which included 13 of the 104 African American volunteer doctors of the First World War.

“This program is designed to connect a community with its own World War One legacy; we are honored to participate,” said Art Collins, founder and president of the Ebony Doughboys, the only organization of living-historians educating the public on the impact of those African Americans serving in the Great War. Ebony Doughboys was pleased to have W. Douglas Fisher author of “African American Doctors of WWI  to talk about these groundbreaking heroes. “We are excited to have the unit support our event,” said Ernest Dollar, manager of the Pope House Museum. “They bring knowledge, and dedication, to a story that is largely unknown.”

 

Ebony Doughboys WW1 Reenactors-Veterans Day in NYC November 2016

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The Ebony Doughboys were representing Harlem’s own 369th Harlem Hell Fighters at the NYC Veterans Day Parade November 11, 2016. Pictured are Steven Jones, Collins Jones and George Jones.

Another Contingent of Ebony Doughboy’s were also educating and honoring the memories of African American Veterans from the Revolutionary War, WWI and WWII at Charlottesville Virginia’s annual Veterans Day “Straighten Up and Fly Right” event at the Jefferson School a formerly segregated school for African American students.

 

Ebony Doughboys-501C3 Non Profit

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Ebony Doughboys is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that relies on your generosity to advance our goal in educating the public about the contributions of African American combat soldiers in the 93rd Infantry Division during WWI. Through your generosity we can continue to educate the public about these men through  our traveling history exhibits, educational programming, living history presentations and battle reenactments.

Please help us in honoring the memory of these forgotten soldiers who fought two wars, one in France and the other on the home front.

Ebony Doughboys- WWI Reenactors-Newville Pa-WWI-GWA

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The Ebony Doughboy’s were very busy the weekend of11/7/15.  Two Elements of the Ebony Doughboys were attending two different events.

The Illinois  contingent was manning the trenches as Red Hand soldiers in Newville, Pa. Our East Coast contingent was representing the state  side soldiers of the 93rd Infantry Division in Dover Delaware’s Veterans Day Parade with Caesar Rodney’s JROTC. CRJROTC displayed outstanding military discipline and drilling skill. Ebony Doughboys Dover Delaware Veterans Day Parade 2015CRHSJROTC 2015CRHS JROTC 2015Ebony Doughboys Dover Vets memorial

The Fall event in Newville Pa is a WWI tactical combat reenactment. This event includes military vehicles,  reenactors dressed in period WWI uniforms with weapons,  participating in WWI trench warfare. This event is the premiere tactical event of the two that we participate in each year in Newville.

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Both contingents of Ebony Doughboys portrayed their WWI counterparts with distinction while on the reenactment battlefield and on parade duty.

Ebony Doughboys-Harlem Hellfighters

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Ebony Doughboys are the only African American living history group in the US that recreates the history of the Harlem Hellfighters of the 369th Infantry 93rd Infantry Division. For more information on the history of the 369th Infantry during the “great war” as well the uniforms and equipment worn by the 369th Harlem Hellfighters click: www.ebonydoughboys.org

Ebony Doughboys-WWI Re-enactors-Recruiting

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Ebony Doughboys WWI Re-enactors wants you! We are actively recruiting new members.  If you enjoy military history and you are passionate about African American history during “the war to end all wars” you can now relive your dream.  As an Ebony Doughboy you will actually recreate major battles that occurred during WWI. Our goals are to show the public how we supported our nation during the war to end all wars, to accurately portray the role of African Americans in WWI at public displays and reenactments and to Energize youth to maintain and promote our military history on a perpetual basis. To learn more about our unit please go to: www.ebonydoughboys.org .