Buffalo Soldiers of Southern New Jersey Talk History at Atlantic Cape’s Atlantic City and Cape May Campuses

ATLANTIC CITY — As part of Atlantic Cape’s continuing recognition of Black History Month, the Southern New Jersey Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club presented a history of the legendary Buffalo Soldiers, who contributed significantly to the settling and preservation of the United States from the Civil War through World War II, before students, staff, faculty and residents at Atlantic Cape’s Atlantic City and Cape May campuses on February 7 and 14, respectively.

The Buffalo Soldiers local chapter routinely take to their “iron horses” and travel across Southern New Jersey, and the country as well, to help spread the word and history of the famed Buffalo Soldiers and to espouse motorcycle safety too.

“As a former history teacher, myself, growing up we did not have the opportunity to teach about the Buffalo Soldiers or the Tuskegee airmen or other all-black military personnel. I like to call them the real American heroes because they helped establish the American west, they rode on wagon trains, they built forts and cities, and they were the first park rangers in the United States,” said Edward “Chip” Harshaw, president, Southern New Jersey Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club. “They did a lot of things and didn’t get credit for it. So, one of our goals is to get out, teach and help spread the legacy by talking about the Buffalo Soldiers every opportunity that we get.”

To the members of the Buffalo Soldiers, Black History Month is not exclusively about Black history, it is about American history. The Buffalo Soldiers organization dedicates its time to educate those who may not know the arduous and courageous history of the Buffalo Soldiers from the 9th and 10th United States Cavalries and the intense racism they endured, the sacrifices made and the hardships they overcame.

“I feel it is important that people know, not just the truth, but the facts because I believe that it helps our younger generation not have this stigma of being undervalued, marginalized and not believing in themselves and what they have the potential to become,” said Ronald “Navigator” Kent, vice president, Southern New Jersey Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club, who served in the United States Marines and Army, and was deployed to Vietnam and Iraq for two tours of duty before his career in law enforcement.

Joining Harshaw and Kent for the presentation were Betty “Lady Liberty” Harshaw, secretary, and Michelle “Lady Red Bird.” The Buffalo Soldiers Southern New Jersey chapter serves the communities of Atlantic, Cape May, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties through various community service endeavors, while also providing scholarships for high school graduates.

Visit atlanticcape.edu/black-history-month-2024 to view a schedule of further upcoming Black History Month programming at our three campuses. 

View a photo gallery of this event on Flickr here.

Visit southernnjbuffalosoldiers.com to learn more.

About Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States accredited, 2022 Achieving the Dream Leader College and Hispanic Serving Institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers 47 undergraduate degree programs, and 33 certificate and workforce development professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and for more than 50 years, our highly-acclaimed Nursing program. Atlantic Cape also partners with several four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree without having to leave home.