Event Education-The United States Colored Troops March to Freedom

The United States Colored Troops March to Freedom by Michael Cherry

The advent of the slaves to soldiers was hesitantly accomplished, but their admittance into the Civil War effectively turned the tide. Many heroic battles ensued after the Emancipation Proclamation was announced. It was in Galveston Bay in Texas on June 19, 1865, that the USCT appeared by providence to share in the pronouncement of Freedom in Texas. War records declare that there were approximately 185,000  United States Colored Troops and approximately 28,000 from Tennessee.

Michael L. Cherry has been an avid researcher of the United States Colored Troops from West Tennessee, specifically from Madison County, TN. He identified these men, found their service records, and spearheaded the drive to have the Tennessee Historical Commission erect a marker. This action was approved and rewarded his research efforts by placing the historical marker at the location of the recruitment center. Mr. Cherry has spoken at the Memphis Public Library for AAHGS Memphis on a collaborated event honoring the USCT and for AAHGS Memphis’s African American History Month.  Additionally, he has spoken on the USCT at the Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s Annual Convention in Memphis, TN.

Community Involvement: Member of the NAACP, West Tennessee Genealogy Society, and Association for the Study of African American Life and History

Education: University of Memphis, BA in African American Studies, 2019

Military Service: United States Army 1968-1970

Access will be through GoToWebinar.  Instructions and Connectivity Link will be forwarded via email to all registrants upon registration, six days prior and again 1 hour prior to the event.  Making the connection is quick and easy only requiring a computer and Internet connectivity from wherever you chose to watch the event. Your questions help drive the meetings, and we will be there to help each other.