Lindsey Graham

On Christmas Day, 1866, a 19-year-old former slave named George Jordan traveled to Nashville to enlist in a new all-Black Army regiment. It was the start of a 30-year career as a professional soldier. In the Army, Jordan learned to read and write, rose to the rank of sergeant, and eventually received the nation's highest military honor.

On Christmas Day, 1866, a 19-year-old former slave named George Jordan traveled to Nashville to enlist in a new all-Black Army regiment. It was the start of a 30-year career as a professional soldier. In the Army, Jordan learned to read and write, rose to the rank of sergeant, and eventually received the nation's highest military honor.

On Christmas Day, 1866, a 19-year-old former slave named George Jordan traveled to Nashville to enlist in a new all-Black Army regiment. It was the start of a 30-year career as a professional soldier. In the Army, Jordan learned to read and write, rose to the rank of sergeant, and eventually received the nation's highest military honor.

Jordan joined one of six new black regiments created by Congress in 1866. For the first time in American history, black men had a permanent place in the U.S. military. Most were stationed in isolated posts on the frontier, charged with making the West safer settlement.

Jordan joined one of six new black regiments created by Congress in 1866. For the first time in American history, black men had a permanent place in the U.S. military. Most were stationed in isolated posts on the frontier, charged with making the West safer settlement.

Jordan joined one of six new black regiments created by Congress in 1866. For the first time in American history, black men had a permanent place in the U.S. military. Most were stationed in isolated posts on the frontier, charged with making the West safer settlement.

In scorching deserts and frozen plains, black soldiers built roads, laid telegraph lines, mapped thousands of square miles, and protected railroad crews and settlers. But opening the West meant fighting and displacing the Native Americans the U.S. government deemed a threat to white settlement.

In scorching deserts and frozen plains, black soldiers built roads, laid telegraph lines, mapped thousands of square miles, and protected railroad crews and settlers. But opening the West meant fighting and displacing the Native Americans the U.S. government deemed a threat to white settlement.

In scorching deserts and frozen plains, black soldiers built roads, laid telegraph lines, mapped thousands of square miles, and protected railroad crews and settlers. But opening the West meant fighting and displacing the Native Americans the U.S. government deemed a threat to white settlement.

For decades, black soldiers helped the United States wage war against Native tribes in a series of conflicts known as the Indian Wars. The Native Americans they fought dubbed them Buffalo Soldiers. During a time of intense racial turmoil in the South, service in the Army provided Black men with a steady income, education, and a chance to claim equal status as American citizens.

For decades, black soldiers helped the United States wage war against Native tribes in a series of conflicts known as the Indian Wars. The Native Americans they fought dubbed them Buffalo Soldiers. During a time of intense racial turmoil in the South, service in the Army provided Black men with a steady income, education, and a chance to claim equal status as American citizens.

For decades, black soldiers helped the United States wage war against Native tribes in a series of conflicts known as the Indian Wars. The Native Americans they fought dubbed them Buffalo Soldiers. During a time of intense racial turmoil in the South, service in the Army provided Black men with a steady income, education, and a chance to claim equal status as American citizens.

But while fighting Indians on the battlefield, many Buffalo soldiers also fought prejudice within the Army. Their legacy of service is a reminder of the complicated relationship of Black soldiers to their government and to the Native people they helped suppress. This is Episode 1 in our three-part series on the Buffalo Soldiers, The Brass Letters.

But while fighting Indians on the battlefield, many Buffalo soldiers also fought prejudice within the Army. Their legacy of service is a reminder of the complicated relationship of Black soldiers to their government and to the Native people they helped suppress. This is Episode 1 in our three-part series on the Buffalo Soldiers, The Brass Letters.

But while fighting Indians on the battlefield, many Buffalo soldiers also fought prejudice within the Army. Their legacy of service is a reminder of the complicated relationship of Black soldiers to their government and to the Native people they helped suppress. This is Episode 1 in our three-part series on the Buffalo Soldiers, The Brass Letters.

Hi, I'm Lindsey Graham, the host of Wondery's American Scandal. In our latest series, a social worker in Tennessee becomes rich and powerful by selling babies on the black market. By the time her crimes are exposed, she's made a fortune and destroyed hundreds of families along the way. Follow American Scandal on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hi, I'm Lindsey Graham, the host of Wondery's American Scandal. In our latest series, a social worker in Tennessee becomes rich and powerful by selling babies on the black market. By the time her crimes are exposed, she's made a fortune and destroyed hundreds of families along the way. Follow American Scandal on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hi, I'm Lindsey Graham, the host of Wondery's American Scandal. In our latest series, a social worker in Tennessee becomes rich and powerful by selling babies on the black market. By the time her crimes are exposed, she's made a fortune and destroyed hundreds of families along the way. Follow American Scandal on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.

On July 6, 1863, America's leading abolitionist Frederick Douglass stood before a packed audience in Philadelphia's National Hall and delivered a rousing call to arms.

On July 6, 1863, America's leading abolitionist Frederick Douglass stood before a packed audience in Philadelphia's National Hall and delivered a rousing call to arms.