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You are here: DiversityInc | Homepage Free Stories | Miracle at St. Anna . . .

'Miracle at St. Anna' Honors Buffalo Soldiers of World War II

By Kevin Canessa Jr.

 e-mail article | print print | post comments | NEWSLETTER

September 26, 2008

Keywords: Spike Lee, movie, Miracle at St. Anna, Buffalo Soldiers, World War II, American military, Congress, Spike Lee joint, Blacks in the military

It's not really clear how they got their name. Some speculate that the American Indian population thought they resembled buffalos. Another story says they often wore buffalo hides in winter in the 1800s West. But one thing is clear: Buffalo Soldiers, infantries of Black men who fought in numerous American wars from the Revolutionary War to World War II, often fought in the harshest conditions. They were always segregated, although at times they were led by white commanding officers.

And sadly, their incredible work too often went unnoticed by the American people and Hollywood--until now.

Film director Spike Lee's new film, "Miracle at St. Anna," tells the story of the Buffalo Soldiers who fought in the 92nd Infantry of World War II.

While the film is scheduled for release on Sept. 26, it's important to have historical perspective on the Buffalo Soldiers before seeing it--something Lee agrees with.

According to many historical accounts, the Buffalo Soldiers often faced hatred from their white counterparts in the military. In fact, prior to World War II, there were at least three known instances of violence against a Black soldier on American soil--all during times of peace.

Also, prior to World War II, Buffalo Soldiers were often used in the harshest conditions to perform non-combat tasks, such as digging graves for dead servicemen and keeping accounts of the dead. But as World War II approached, many of the soldiers were put into the 92nd Infantry, which ultimately was sent to take part in the invasion of Italy. These events serve as the basis for the novel Miracle at St. Anna and Lee's cinematic adaptation.

According to the web site www.BuffaloSoldiers.com--which offers a chronological look at Black soldiers in America--the division chronicled in the film "lost momentum" and was forced by much stronger German troops to retreat in an extremely disorganized fashion.

The site says: "During fighting along the Gothic line in Italy, the 92nd Infantry lost momentum and was forced into a disorderly retreat by the experienced German troops defending this series of fortifications across the peninsula. The division commander, Major Gen. Edward M. Almond, and his staff resorted to racist remarks to explain the division's initial combat failure. Actually, though, problems such as lack of communication, a poorly organized plan of attack, missing white officers, conflicting orders, untested troops and the confusion of battle were actually to blame. The basic problem, however, was a serious lack of unit cohesion and trust between white officers and Black soldiers.

"In fact, most of the latter blamed Almond's racism, claiming that the division commander was so prejudiced that he hoped the episode would discredit the entire race. Truman Gibson, who had replaced Judge William Hastie, issued a report in 1945 that attributed most of the 92nd division's problems to the U.S. Army's policy of racial segregation." (Gibson was, at the time he issued the report, a civilian adviser to Secretary of War Henry Stimson).

"Unfortunately, the white press focused on certain phrases in the report that seemed to imply that Black soldiers did not perform well in combat. Despite their subsequent combat successes, the division's reputation (like that of the 93rd in the Pacific) remained unfairly sullied by this incident."

And while it took many years before the Buffalo Soldiers received any official credit for the incredibly dangerous and brave work they performed--not just during World War II, but throughout American history--it's Lee's movie that will perhaps bring the greatest amount of light to these men.

In the trailer for "Miracle at St. Anna," it appears the film, which begins in the 1980s, flashes back to World War II, when the Buffalo Soldiers were in Italy.

In addition to a series of theatrical previews, you can also find out a lot more about the movie by clicking here for the film's official web site.

Click here to read a review of "Miracle at St. Anna" in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Readers' Comments

Posted: Monday, May 11, 2009
'Miracle at St. Anna' Honors Buffalo Soldiers of World War II

Buffalo Soldiers got thier name from their hair. When the Indians did thier cooe', they found that the early African Americans hair was very wooly and tight like that of a buffalo. So they did not scalp them as they did with European Americans. Due to the fact that they fought very bravely.

Doctor William H. Leckie...Buffalo Soldiers.

Harold Brown

Posted: Tuesday, Oct 07, 2008
'Miracle at St. Anna' Honors Buffalo Soldiers of World War II

Here in Leavenworth, Kansas, the Buffalo Soldiers have been honored and greatly admired for years. There is a beautiful Buffalo Soldier Monument and museum at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.

Please, come to see it!

Beth Donovan

Posted: Friday, Oct 03, 2008
'Miracle at St. Anna' Honors Buffalo Soldiers of World War II

I loved the film. Spike Lee was able to cover war, racism and religion all in one film. The ending is perfect, and the characters were so well rounded. You'll fall in love with each and everyone of them.

Afi Holmes

Posted: Tuesday, Sep 30, 2008
'Miracle at St. Anna' Honors Buffalo Soldiers of World War II

Spike Lee did a superb job telling the story of the Massacre at St. Anna and what happened to the black soldiers who were there to help librate Italy.

Marlene Parker

Posted: Monday, Sep 29, 2008
'Miracle at St. Anna' Honors Buffalo Soldiers of World War II

Thank you for this preview of Miracle at St. Anna; and a grand salute to Spike Lee for honoring these brave souls who accomplished incredible feats in the face of racism at the highest levels of the military establishment.

Carol Nelson

Posted: Monday, Sep 29, 2008
'Miracle at St. Anna' Honors Buffalo Soldiers of World War II

I had high expectations for this film and it wasn't militant enough for my liking. Tyler Perry's film "The Family That Preys" was excellent.

Natasha Green

Posted: Monday, Sep 29, 2008
'Miracle at St. Anna' Honors Buffalo Soldiers of World War II

The movie was excellent. So often because we have no way to showcase our own history we are forced to see it denigrated. Spike did an excellent job with this. Finally, one of the many great stories of the Buffalo Soldiers can be told.

Terri Lyons

 



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