Black History

In Honor of Black History Month, Honor the Black and White Soldiers Who Fought to Defeat Slavery

NEW ORLEANS DATA NEWS WEEKLY — Africans played a very important role in the victory over the slave holders and the defeat of the Confederacy.

Published

7 years ago

February 4, 2019

Oakland Post

Leon A. Waters

Africans played a very important role in the victory over the slave holders and the defeat of the Confederacy. Just before and after the war broke out (1861), thousands of enslaved Africans from New Orleans, Louisiana across the South deserted the plantations and fought as maroons (runaway slaves) against the slave masters.

Many made it to St. James A.M.E. Baptist Church on N. Roman Street that served as a Union recruiting station. Over 200,000 Black men fought in the Union Army; up to 28,000 former enslaved came from New Orleans and Louisiana. They were in the vanguard of some of the decisive battles of the war. Several regiments of the U.S. Colored Troops participated in the defeat inflicted on General Robert E. Lee’s army in Virginia. Black troops of the 25 Corp were among the first Union troops to liberate the Confederate capital at Richmond, Virginia, on April 3, 1865* that later led to the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox, VA. on April 9, 1865.

In Louisiana, African troops were decisive in defeating the Confederate forces. The Confederate forces were already weakened from within by the mutiny of Confederate troops at Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip in Plaquemines Parish (April 1862) and by the desertion of thousands of Johnny Rebs in the face of the armada of Union ships led by Admiral Farragut who captured New Orleans on April 26, 1862. **

At Port Hudson, eight African regiments including the famous 1st and 2nd Native Guards liberated themselves well. The latter two regiments made over five heroic and daring sorties up difficult terrain to capture Confederate positions. In these assaults, the African troops displayed unmatched heroism and courage in the face of sharp fire from entrenched enemy positions. On one charge they nearly carried the enemy’s position and were thrown back only at the last moment. In the battle of May 27, 1863, Captain Andre’ Cailloux, a Black soldier of the 1st Louisiana Native Guards, displayed enormous courage and calm under fire. After being shot and seriously wounded he struggled to his feet and led his men in another bold assault. He was then hit again, yet found the fortitude to continue. A third time he was shot; this time it was fatal. He died a glorious death for the cause of freedom. And for this he has become a great martyr for the anti-slavery cause and for self-determination of the African American nation.

The Union Army was pursuing a just and democratic objective. This is why we should honor the Civil War. After the Civil War, the U.S. government passed into the hands of the monopoly millionaire class. The government, then, began to employ African American and white troops in a series of unjust wars. The objective of these wars was to subdue the native peoples (incorrectly called Indians) and to invade Spanish held colonies in the Caribbean (Puerto Rico, Cuba, Philippines, etc. in 1898) These wars were unjust wars and were conducted in the interest of the rich millionaires and were contrary to the real interest of the oppressed masses in the U.S.A. For this reason we should not honor these wars.

Long live the heroic African fighters!!

*1 Lerone Bennet, Jr., Before the Mayflower: A History of Black America (New York: Penguin Books,1993) p. 475.

**2 Col. Robert N. Scott, The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Series I Volume VI (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1882) p. 556-643.

Leon A. Waters is the Chairperson of the Louisiana Museum of African American History; Manager of Hidden History Tours, @ www.HiddenHistory.us

This article originally appeared in the New Orleans Data News Weekly.

Oakland Post

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Activism

Mayor Barbara Lee Proclaims April 9 as ‘100 Black Men of the Bay Area Day’

“Today, the 100th day of the year, I proclaim 100 Black Men Day,” said Mayor Barbara Lee standing with newly appointed Oakland Port Commissioner Derek Mohammad, a 100 Black Men member. “Whereas the 100 Black Men of the Bay Area has demonstrated decades of unwavering commitment to uplifting youth and strengthening families and advancing opportunity and access in Oakland and the greater Bay Area with their signature programs…the chapter has impacted thousands of young people and contributed thousands of hours of community service…”

Published

1 week ago

April 19, 2026

Oakland Post

At D. Monaghan’s on the Hill, a resolution declaring April 9 ‘100 Black Men of the Bay Area Day’ was witnessed by (l.-r.) 100 Black Men leaders Maurice Harold, Marco T. Lindsey, Danny Lee Williams, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, Oakland City Council President Kevin Jenkins, Port of Oakland Commissioner Derek Mohammad, and Oakland Councilmember Janani Ramachandran. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

When Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee announced that she would proclaim Thursday, April 9, as “100 Black Men of the Bay Area Day,” the organization’s board chairman and owner of D. Monaghan’s on the Hill, Danny Lee Williams knew he wanted to mark the historic moment with fanfare his community could share.

Standing at the podium on the patio of his restaurant in the Oakland Hills, he welcomed about 150 members of the organization and the broader community who gathered to celebrate.

“This is a special day, and we are in the midst of our Economic Empowerment week,” he said. Williams also welcomed four vendors to sell their gifts and accessories during the event free of charge.

Lee shared how as a single parent of two boys, she was grateful to have the organization’s support in mentoring her sons.

“Today, my adult son is a member in Illinois, and I thank the organization for supporting so many Black boys.”

The idea for the proclamation originated with Oakland City Councilmember Kevin Jenkins, who praised the organization for its leadership and contributions to Oakland and the greater Bay Area.

“This work that we do would not be possible without partnerships with organizations like the 100 Black Men,” said Jenkins. “We’re saving lives, restoring communities, and giving people hope and opportunities.”

“This is Oakland,” said Mayor Lee. “This is what we’re about. It’s about new ideas, thinking outside the box and being who we are. It’s about bringing joy. This is our holiday.”

The mayor also thanked the organization for volunteering during Oakland Cleanup days.

Councilmember Janani Ramachandran added that while many complain about problems in the city, “the 100” put in the work.

“It’s hard to be in the community and do the work, but that is exactly what the 100 Black Men does,” she said.

The organization’s economic chair and associate director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion at the University of California Berkeley’s Business School, Marco T. Lindsey, shared his enthusiasm for change.

“Today is the culmination of our work and something special is happening in our organization and our city,” he said. “We have a special opportunity to show up for our community now in ways that we haven’t had in the past. We have a mayor that supports us and it’s important that each and every one of us do our part. We all need our fingerprints on whatever we want to see in our city.”

Lindsey also expressed that if underserved youth and their parents had access to the resources needed for success, “Our youth wouldn’t be breaking windows and joining gangs if they had a pathway to earn $75k to $100k a year.”

The 100 Black Men were hosts of an Economic Empowerment Forum at McClymonds High School on April 11 educating students on entrepreneurship and financial literacy. On Sat., April 18, they will hold their fifth annual Career Expo at Contra Costa College 2600 Mission Bell Drive (G225) in San Pablo from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The 100 Black Men chapter of the Bay Area was established in 1988, one of the earliest in the nation.

For more information visit 100blackmenba.org