Black Soldiers of New York State

Anthony Gero, author of the new SUNY Press book Black Soldiers of New York State: A Proud Legacy, spoke about his work and signed copies of the book on Sunday, February 22 at the Cayuga Museum in Auburn, New York. Gero, a Fellow of the Company of Military Historians, worked more than ten years on the research for the book, trying to answer the basic question of why these African-Americans would serve a country that denied them the full rights of citizenship. “It is essentially a book about dreams,” said Gero. He also includes this quote from Martin Luther King Jr. in the book, which provides further insight: “If a man hasn’t discovered something he would die for, he isn’t fit to live.”

It was fitting to hold the event at the museum, as Cayuga County, with documented African-American veterans from the Civil War on, is mentioned frequently in the book. Black Soldiers of New York State is now available at our website, and if you're in Auburn, you can pick up a copy at the Cayuga Museum.

A Proud Legacy

Today's featured title in our celebration of Black History Month is Black Soldiers of New York State. Military historian Anthony F. Gero examines the history of the valiant service of New York’s African American soldiers. Gero tells of their two centuries of struggle and triumph, beginning with the French and Indian War and continuing until 1950, when the U.S. Army and New York’s National Guard became integrated.

Learn more at our website about this important part of our state's and our nation's history, largely untold until now.