What was a Buffalo Soldier?
A buffalo soldier was an African-American serving in one of the U.S. Army’s African-American regiments. The term buffalo soldier is derived from an Indian term that described the perceived resemblance between the soldiers’ hair and a buffalo’s head hair. It is unclear whether the term originated in the Cheyenne, Apache, or Kiowa tribe. It is still a matter of contention whether the Indians meant respect or disrespect by using this term.
