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February 19, 2020
photo Courtesy us a rmy
African American regiments known as Buffalo Soldiers fought
in the Spanish-American War and later garrisoned at Vancouver
Barracks in Vancouver. This weekend, an exhibit and discussion
about historic black connections to the area will take place at the
Fort Vancouver Historic Trust.
Black Roots Presented
Weekend tribute
and discussion set
This weekend, the Historic Trust
at Fort Vancouver presents a special
exhibit and discussion about historic
black connections to the lower Co-
lumbia River basin, including the
1948 Vanport flood, the Vancouver
NAACP and the Buffalo Soldiers.
The exhibit will be open free both
Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 22 and
23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Artil-
lery Barracks on the Vancouver Na-
tional Historic Site. The discussion,
exploring the impact of the Vanport
Flood, the importance of the Buffa-
lo Soldiers 24th Infantry Regiment
Company B being stationed at Fort
Vancouver, and the contributions of
the NAACP will be held on Satur-
day at 2 p.m. at the same location.
The panel members will include
Donna Sinclair, adjunct professor at
Washington State University–Van-
couver; Carl Abbott, historian and
urbanist at Portland State Universi-
ty; Claudia Carter, assistant treasur-
er of the Vancouver NAACP; James
Harrison, Portland Community Col-
lege professor; Frazier Raymond,
retired U.S. Army staff sergeant and
president of the Buffalo Soldiers –
Moses Williams Pacific NW Chap-
ter; and Melissa Williams, director
of diversity, equity and inclusion at
Clark College.