Why is the movie Glory so important to American History?
Answer Zendra, I don’t know if the movie Glory is to American history, The movie is essentially the telling of the record of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry (Colored) in the Civil War. The 54th was one of the first regiments organized with men of color. The officers were white and the Colonel, Robert Gould Shaw, the son of a prominent Boston, abolitionist family was picked to command it. The movie’s premise is the effort Shaw made to have his regiment fight, rather than be assigned to duties in the rear. This treatment of all Colored Regiments was based on the premise that African- Americans could not fight. The principle events of the James Island fight and the assault on Battery Wagner the following morning, highlighted the courage of the regiment’s officers and men. I would recommend that you read Luis F. Emilio’s “A Brave Black Regiment” Emilio was a captain in the 54th; Virginia M. Adams ed. “On The Altar of Freedom” a compilation of the letters of Corporal James Henry Gooding and
