For Race and Country: Buffalo Soldiers in California at the Ontario Museum of History & Art Explores the Legacy of Black Soldiers in the U.S. Military

For Race and Country: Buffalo Soldiers in California at the Ontario Museum of History & Art Explores the Legacy of Black Soldiers in the U.S. Military

Ontario, CA- Buffalo Soldiers have been mythologized in movies, television, and popular songs. Despite this romanticism, their history is complex, and their stories are worthy of deeper understanding. For Race and Country: Buffalo Soldiers in California, a new exhibition from the Ontario Museum of History & Art, explores the surprising history surrounding all-Black US Army regiments whose members—both in and out of uniform—left powerful traces in the Golden State. The show runs from December 4, 2025 to March 1, 2026. 

Venturing beyond myths, the exhibition confronts the role of Black soldiers in the Army’s history of violence against Native American people, explores historical debates in the Black community over participation in wars, and exposes cracks in a society permeated by racism, in which African American soldiers faced the searing conflict between commitment to equality for their people and to the country they chose to serve. Such is the “double life” African Americans live, in the words of scholar W.E.B. Du Bois, including in the armed forces. 

Through photographs, objects, historical records, newspapers, musical scores, and media representations, the exhibition presents a sweeping narrative of Black soldiers and their families who made California home during the era of government-sanctioned racial segregation in the US military. For Race and Country highlights Californians, from Northern California to the Mexican border, whose little-known influence transformed the state, and the nation. The presentation of the exhibition at the Ontario Museum of History & Art also includes special contributions from the Inland Empire Buffalo Soldier Heritage Association and Buffalo Soldiers 9^th & 10^th Horse Cavalry Association of Greater Los Angeles.  

For Race and Country: Buffalo Soldiers in California is based on the California African American Museum exhibition of the same name, curated by Susan D. Anderson, and tours through Exhibit Envoy.  

Additional related programming includes: 

Studio Saturdays: Storytime in the Galleries, The Buffalo Soldier 

Saturday, December 20 | 12 PM – 2 PM | All Ages 

Step into the galleries for a special reading of The Buffalo Soldier by Sherry Garland, illustrated by Ronald Himler. Follow the powerful story of a young man who, after gaining his freedom, joins an all-Black cavalry regiment and helps shape American history. After the reading, visitors are invited to participate in a hands-on art activity and guided reflection inspired by the themes of resilience, land, and identity. This program is open to all ages, with content designed especially for those ages 8 and up. The program begins promptly at the stated time. Please plan to attend the full duration of the program. Registration is recommended but not required. All materials are provided. 

 

Film Night: Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts 

Thursday, January 8 | 5 PM – 7 PM | Ages 14 + 

Experience an evening screening of Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts, presented in conjunction with the exhibition For Race and Country: Buffalo Soldiers in California. The film examines Black soldiers’ service, segregation, and identity, highlighting their lasting impact on California and the nation. A facilitated discussion will follow the screening to explore the film’s themes and their connection to the current exhibition. Light refreshments provided. 

 

First Thursdays: Buffalo Soldiers History Discussion 

Thursday, February 5 | 4 PM – 5:30 PM | Ages 15 + 

Join the Museum for an afternoon discussion of the exhibition For Race and Country: Buffalo Soldiers in California. In this introductory lecture, we will examine the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers and highlight the individuals and communities working to preserve their memory. Light refreshments will be provided.   

 

Studio Saturdays: Black History Month Collective 

Saturday, February 7 | 12 PM – 4 PM | All Ages  

Celebrate Black History Month at the Museum and engage with local artists through interactive activities, creative projects, and inspiring conversations that honor and explore Black heritage and culture.

 

Exhibition Support 

For Race and Country: Buffalo Soldiers in California is based on the California African American Museum exhibition of the same name, curated by Susan D. Anderson, and tours through Exhibit Envoy. The original exhibition was created with consultant Anthony J. Powell and researcher Caroline Collins. 

About the Curator 

Susan D. Anderson is History Curator and Program Manager at the California African American Museum in Los Angeles, and a member of the editorial board of California History journal. Previously, she was Director of Collections, Library, Exhibitions and Programs at the California Historical Society in San Francisco, as well as Interim Chief Curator at the African American Museum & Library at Oakland, and Curator of Collecting Los Angeles at UCLA Library Special Collections. For decades, she has brought her scholarly interest in California’s hidden African American history to her writing, lectures and public history projects including exhibitions, podcasts and programming. A third-generation Californian, her mother and father’s families include founders of historic black churches, Washington Chapel AME Church in Tuskegee, Alabama, established 1898, and Bethlehem Lutheran Church in West Oakland, California, founded 1929. Susan is the author of Nostalgia for a Trumpet: Poems of Memory and History. At the Mesa, she worked on her book, African Americans and the California Dream, a first-ever history of California African Americans and their transforming impact on civic life in the state from the Gold Rush to Black Lives Matter. 

About CAAM 

The mission of the California African American Museum is to research, collect, preserve, and interpret for public enrichment the history, art, and culture of African Americans with an emphasis on California and the western United States. For more information, visit caamuseum.org. 

About Exhibit Envoy 

Exhibit Envoy provides traveling exhibitions and professional services to museums throughout California. Exhibit Envoy provides institutions with diverse and meaningful traveling exhibitions to strengthen their communities. For more information, visit exhibitenvoy.org. 

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Additional Information
The Ontario Museum of History & Art preserves, interprets, and celebrates the history and cultural heritage of Ontario and the surrounding area. From developing exhibitions, to engaging visitors through educational experiences, and events that inspire creative action, the Museum is an anchor to the growing downtown arts district. The Museum recently achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition afforded the nation’s museums. The Museum is uniquely housed in Ontario’s former City Hall, a historical landmark funded by the Works Progress Administration. 

About the Ontario Museum of History & Art

The Ontario Museum of History & Art is located at 225 S. Euclid Avenue, Ontario, California 91762. Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday, Noon to 4 PM, and Saturday and Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM. Admission is free. The Ontario Museum of History & Art is a facility of the City of Ontario’s Department of Museum, Arts & Culture. For more information call (909) 395-2510, email MuseumInfo@ontarioCA.gov, visit OntarioMuseum.org or follow @ontariomuseum_artsculture on Instagram.

About the City of Ontario

The City of Ontario is enhancing the quality-of-life by creating urban lifestyle districts that create sustainable places to live, work and play.  Located just east of Los Angeles and Orange counties, the City of Ontario is ideally situated as a gateway to Southern California. With major freeways, rail transportation and an International Airport, Ontario invites the rest of the world to be a part of a culturally diverse community with rich history that is well positioned for quality development and economic sustainability for its residents. Complementing its business and residential core, Ontario offers premium entertainment venues such as the Ontario Convention Center, Toyota Arena, and Ontario Mills. To learn more about the City of Ontario, visit OntarioCA.gov  or call (909) 395-2000.