Brownsville Revisited

• Main Author: Malbrew, Ricardo Purnell
• Other Authors: David H. Culbert
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: LSU 2007
• Subjects: History
• Online Access: http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-03112007-200919/

The case of the all-black 25th Infantry of the United States Army in the Brownsville Affair is perhaps one of the most egregious events in American history. On the night of August 13, 1906, a group of anonymous men went on a shooting rampage throughout the town of Brownsville, Texas, leaving one person dead and another wounded. Since there had been hostilities between black soldiers and white civilians prior to the shootings, it did not take long for local authorities to assume the collective guilt of black soldiers. Without an adequate investigation or a full hearing, President Roosevelt bowed to public pressure and issued dishonorable discharges to all members of the 25th who were stationed in Brownsville. Following their immediate discharge from the United States Army in December 1906, many of these soldiers were refused civilian employment due to their military status. This thesis is a reexamination of the Brownsville affair and its aftermath and seeks to make a case for restitution on behalf of the discharged soldiers and their families.