"Buffalo Soldiers" ride into Overture Center

By A. David Dahmer

Richard Scott has developed "Buffalo Soldiers: The Legacy" a community-based production that highlights the historical contributions of the African American soldiers.

"This is a story that I always felt needed to be told," says Richard Scott, the producer of "Buffalo Soldiers: The Legacy" — a community-based production that highlights the historical contributions of the African American soldiers of the 1860s.
And after a decade, it has finally come to its fruition with its premiere at the Overture Playhouse May 29-30. 
"It has a universal theme that we should not overlook individuals because of their social status and appearance," Scott says. "We  all want to leave a legacy for our descendants to look up to and be proud of. We want people to know that if they have a dream — just as the Buffalo Soldiers had a dream — that they should work at following it."
African Americans have fought in military conflicts since colonial days including the Spanish American War, the Philippine Insurrection, the Mexican Expedition, World War I, World War II, and the Korean Police Action. However, the Buffalo Soldiers, comprised of former slaves, freemen, and Black Civil War soldiers, were the first to serve during peacetime. The Buffalo Soldiers' contributions to the development of the West were innumerable
"Very few people know about them other than that Bob Marley song," says Scott, referring to Marley's hit song "Buffalo Soldiers." “That’s one of the reasons why this production is so important.”
This is the first time Scott has written, directed, produced and acted in a play at the same time.
"Acting is so much easier when you don't have to deal with all of those nitpicky things," he says. "But it's been a wonderful experience for me. I'm already looking forward to the next project.
"Still, I am so busy, I sometimes feel like I've been tsunamied from time to time," Scott adds with a smile.
On Thursday, May 28, they will be having a dress rehearsal for individuals and families from local homeless shelters. The public will be able to see “Buffalo Soldiers: The Legacy”  starting on May 29.
"The cast members and everybody have been just wonderful," Scott says. "We have people from all walks of life doing all kinds of stuff for us and working towards something the community can be really proud of and remember."
The play chronicles one military campaign in the southwestern territories of Arizona and New Mexico during the war between the "Indigenous People" and the United States Cavalry, more commonly known as the "Indian Wars."
African Americans soldiers were charged with and responsible for escorting settlers, cattle herds, and railroad crews. The 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments also conducted campaigns against American Indian tribes on a western frontier that extended from Montana in the Northwest to Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in the Southwest.
Throughout the era of the Indian Wars approximately 20 percent of the U.S. Cavalry troopers were Black, and they fought over 177 engagements. The Buffalo Soldiers ran into moral and social issues that "Buffalo Soldiers: The Legacy" sheds light on. The production will be entertaining, Scotts says, but also educational
"As Bill Cosby said, 'If you're not careful, you're going to learn something," Scott smiles. "And people will learn something. Every line has something that has some historical significance."
As the longtime minority services coordinator at Madison East High School, Scott has been promoting and enabling academic achievement for decades.
"It's well within what I do in terms of my job as an educator," Scott says. "I try to encourage young people to be engaged, to learn, and to build relationships. If you want kids to learn, you have to engage them in things they find interesting. We're bringing history to life so it's not so dry and drawn out."
Scott started writing the play in 1999, but due to family health issues and other concerns that came up over the years, he had to put the production on the backburner.
"I'm extremely honored to have two sons who are working with me on this and a wealth of people who have supported me on this since 2000,” he said. "It's been a long road, but it's been a good one!"

"Buffalo Soldiers: The Legacy" will premiere on May 29-30, 2009 in the Overture Playhouse.  For more information, call 240-9962.