Buffalo Soldiers Day is celebrated on July 28 in America to honor the formation of the first regular Army regiments comprising African American soldiers in 1866.
To honor the Buffalo Soldiers, the Wilmington Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club – North Carolina was founded by Kenneth “Dream Maker” Thomas and was chartered in 2011 by Sam Spicer and Mac Mitchell. The Wilmington chapter is part of a larger organization ― The National Association of the Buffalo Soldiers and Troopers Motorcycle Club (NABSTMC).
The chapter was the fifth NABSTMC chapter started in North Carolina. It was started in part “because many like-minded individuals who enjoy riding motorcycles, needed a structured and mature platform to express our love and appreciation for the rich history of the original Buffalo Soldiers and at the same time, be a positive role model for our community,” said Radue “Zulu” Shakur, president and historian.
The nickname Buffalo Soldier is said to come about from the 10th Cavalry from the American Plains Indians who fought against those soldiers. The American Plains Indians referred the Black cavalry troops as “buffalo soldiers” because of their dark, curly hair, which resembled a buffalo’s coat and because of their fierce nature of fighting. The nickname soon became synonymous with all African American regiments formed in 1866.
Congress established the first peacetime all-Black regiments in the regular U.S. Army to help rebuild the country after the end of the Civil War. The Buffalo Soldiers also fought on the Western frontier during the Plains Wars, from the early 1850s through the late 1870s. The Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th and 10th cavalries protected unsettled lands as pioneers moved westward.
The club consists of mostly veterans and professionals ― male and female, who enjoy traveling across the country on their motorcycles.
How does the club help the community?
“We are a 501C3 nonprofit organization. We are a community focused unit volunteering our time to help feed the homeless, teach motorcycle safety and be an inspiration to the younger generation who desperately need something to be inspired by and proud of,” said Shakur. Each year, the chapter awards a scholarship to an individual entering into college from one of the surrounding counties.
Currently there are over 120 chapters nationwide to include international status with a chapter chartered in Germany. The NABSTMC is one of the largest known motorcycle clubs in the world.
What is the future for the club?
“The club’s objective is to continue to teach our community about the history of the Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th and 10th Calvary and to continue to support and assist our communities the world over,” said Shakur.
Cheryl M. Whitaker covers community news for the StarNews. Reach her at cheryl.whitaker@starnewsonline.com.
