Desmond Bertrand-Pitts oversees the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, which explores the overlooked stories of Black soldiers who served in major American wars. The museum’s new traveling exhibit, The Blue Helmets, highlights the contributions of African-American soldiers in World War I. Let’s learn more!
Have you always been a history buff?
“I don’t consider myself to be a history buff but I am a lover of history and a firm believer that in order to move progressively forward, you must know from whence you’ve come. My interest started at a young age being the grandson of a Vietnam veteran, who instilled in us the value of knowing Black history because it forms who we are and shapes who we will become.”
What can people expect to see at the new Blue Helmets exhibit?
“Guests can expect to learn an untold story about pride, patriotism and sacrifice. This exhibit has a blend of context, artillery, uniforms, documents, QR codes to lead to landing pages and more resources, Spanish translation, and even an AI feature. Our focus is to cover units and soldiers that are unknown to the general public to ultimately add a more comprehensive view of African American military history.”
What part of Houston’s Black history do you think is often forgotten or not as well-known?
“The Camp Logan incident had been vastly overlooked until recently with the US Army finally deciding to offer clemency to the soldiers who were wrongfully charged and hanged after the riots of 1917. I think we also can do a better job with ensuring that the nation is aware of the true story and birthplace of Juneteenth, and the early settlement of African Americans before and after that 1865 arrival and announcement by the United States colored troops.”
