African Americans and U. S. policy toward Africa, 1850-1924 Book

Loved it. From the birth of John Horse in Florida until 56 years after his death in Mexico, this is the little-known story of the African people who resisted the brutal slavery of the American Sout. People who fought along side, and sometimes on their own against the American army and their Indian allies for their freedom and land they could call their own, for themselves and their descendants. Their story caries them through the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Seminole Wars (the longest guerilla war in American history, sporadically from 1817 until 1858) and the Indian wars on the Texas frontier. They fought against the American army in Florida, escaped reenslavement in Indian Territory (what is now Oklahoma)and Texas to Mexico where they fought for the Mexican government against the Apaches and Commanches. Their reputation as trackers and fighters was so admired they were later recruited by the American army to return to the United States and enlist as scouts for the army units stationed along the Mexican border. Although they won numerous awards, including several Medals of Honor, they were mistreated by the American government, denied the land they were promised, brutalized by the locals Texans, and eventually lived in extreme poverty at starvation level. Some of them went back to Mexico where they were finally given a land grant to some land in Mexico just west of Del Rio, Texas. John Horse died in Mexico after pleading with the government in Mexico City for the land that was promised them. Some of their descendants still remain there to this day. Still other descendants live in and around Brackettville, Texas, where there is a Seminole Negro Scout cemetery. The graves of three Medal of Honor winners are there in the desert. Spoiler Alert: this story does not have a happy ending. It is not for those who have difficulty facing some of the true incidents from the bad side of America.