By Allison Mantakul/reporter
Black soldiers played a pivotal role enlisting in the U.S. Army during the Civil War, a Vicksburg National Military Park Civil war historian told NE students Feb. 19.
Davis Slay, a graduate of Mississippi State University and Texas Christian University, said African-American men had to fight to be in the fight.
“Black men worked the plantations or enlisted in the military,” he said.
African-Americans were only allowed to be in the Navy until President Lincoln allowed them to be enlisted in the federal army, Slay said. The Civil War was important for blacks because they needed to fight and win their own freedom.
“Black troops served us for a year to gain their freedom,” he said. ”African-American troops were self-disciplined.”
Although they fought as soldiers, the troops still weren’t treated equally in the Army, Slay said.
Black soldiers helped gain their freedom and fought hard enough to help stop slavery after the Civil War, Slay said.
“My personal experience to the stories of battles of the African-Americans was great,” NE student Shayan Khan said. “The stories of Davis Slay’s narration brought back great history in notice.”
