The Biweekly Guide to African-American Culture May 24-June 6, 1994 ·Volume 4 Number 2 $1.00 LISTINGS INSIDE: THEATRE • GALLERIES • MUSEUMS • .tL.E__W ~ CONCERTS • CLUBS • AND MORE! Salutes To The ·Harlem Hellfighters' BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC ~ \ H:.(I f\ \ \:.( 1;. "\7TH AIVrv ~\3f\AT ION UAL CELl::- Artistic Director Chuck Davis " ~HR Of lHf (Hil~­ YOijl~ Of lHf AfRI(A~ ~IA~PORA" A Celebration of African Dance, Music and Spirit. THREE PERFORMANCES THREE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS! BAM Opera House May 28 at 2pm & 8pm May 29 at 3pm DANCEAFRICA Outdoor Bazaar May 28, 29, 30 CALL TICKETMASTER (212) 307-4100 For Information call (718) 636-4100 The 17th Annual Celebration of DANCEAFRICA has been made possible by AT&T. Your True Voice . ~ -- ;AT&T l~lml Brooklyn Academy of Music i 30 Lafayette Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11217 SALUTES TO THE •HARLEM HELLFIGHTERS' BY 1ST LT. YAREMA HUTSALIUK Enlisted men of the 369th R.I. U.S. (15th New York) on a ship retumingfrom France, all decorated with the "French Croix de Guerre." or 81 years, New York City's ing to join at the disused dance hall own 'Harlem Hellfighters' have on 7th Avenue and 132nd Street that F served both State and Nation served as this unit's 'Armory'. The as citizen-soldiers, all while fighting volunteers drilled there, or at 'Camp the harder and longer battle for civil Harlem' -the city's streets and parks. rights. Here is the story of this famous In 1916, the 15th Regiment of African-American regiment from Colored Infantry of the N.Y. National Harlem. Guard was formally accepted into the Until1913, black Americans were State's Organized Militia forces, and denied the right to serve in the presented with its own flag. By 1917, National Guard of New York State, it was up to full strength, and was but, after many months of urging by accepted for wartime service after the the Lenox Community Council, United States' declaration of war. Governor Charles C. Whitman finally The 15th requested assignment to authorized the formation of a the 42nd 'Rainbow' Division, but was 'Regiment of Colored Infantry' in the curtly told that "black is not a color of New York National Guard, appoint­ the rainbow." While unassigned to a ing a white attorney, Colonel William division, they left for training in Hayward, as the first commander. Spartansburg, South Carolina, where The response from New York City's the unit's New York troopers had to black community was overwhelm­ deal with the South's harsh Jim Crow ing, and soon, volunteers were flock- system. In late 1917, the unit went to ROUTES, The Biweekly Guide to African-American Culture, May 24-fune 6, 1994-3 Hoboken and embarked for France in the unit in no uncertain terms: December; after three shipwrecks, it "Experience in recent battles has finally made it overseas, still carrying shown that the bravery of all, officers its State flag, still designated as the and men, was admirable and worthy . 15th New York (instead of receiving a of the highest praise . with some l Federal number). experience, and with a bravery equal Although in France, the 15th was to that they have shown in recent still not freed from American racism; fighting, the 369th will be equal to the segregationist U.S. Anny opposed the finest of regiments," wrote the black combat units, feeling that Commander of Infantry of the French African-Americans lacked the ability 161st Division, to which they were to fight. Accordingly, they assigned later attached. Over 170 French deco­ this proud unit to labor duties. After rations were awarded to officers and numerous protests, General John J. men of the 369th Regiment Pershing finally assigned them to d'Infanterie des U. S. by a grateful combat duties - but with the French French government, and indeed, so Army! Redesignated as the 369th impressive was their record in battle U.S. Infantry, this Harlem unit began that the French govermnent awarded training with their French comrades, the Croix de Guerre to the Regimental discovering to their delight that the Flag, a high honor still commemorat­ French drew no color line. ed by the green-and-red fourragere Despite the misgivings of U.S. cord still worn by members of the generals about 'blacks' ability in corn­ 15th and 369th today. bat, the 369th immediately began to The 'Harlem Hellfighters' also run up one of the finest records in the gained fame for their regimental American Expeditionary Force. The band, which introduced jazz to first Croix de Guerre - a high French European audiences, and set a taste decoration awarded to any American for this music that still remains today. - went to two soldiers of the 369th, Led by Lt. James Reese Europe, a Cpl. Henry Johnson and Pvt. famous band leader, composer and Needham Roberts, who, although arranger, the band included such wounded, single-handedly fought off well-known musicians as Noble a determined attack by over 25 Sissle and Frank DeBroit in its ranks. Germans. French leaders also praised Detached from the unit, it toured all CoNTENTS: COVER PHOTO: BRIG. GENERAL BENJAMIN 0. DAVIS, SR. AND THE HON. TRUMAN GIBSON, Ass'T TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR FOR NEGRO AFFAIRS. 1944 • COVER STORY: SALUI'ES TO THE 'liARLEM HELLF1GHTERS' BY 1ST LT. Y AREMA HUTSAUUK • LlsnNGS: Routes' 3rd Anniversary Celebration, 6; Classifieds, 6; Restaurants, 6; Theatre, 6; Conferences, 7; Film, 7; Dance, 7; Black Expo, 8; Galleries, 8; Museums & Cultural Centers, 9; Clubs & Cabarets, 11; Concerts, 12; Free-For-All, 12; Landmarks, 14. Volume 4, Number 2 Published by OCR for Publishers, Inc. • 521 W. 23rd Street • New York, NY 10011-1105. Annual subscription rate U.S. $18. Send subscription to Routes, The Biweekly Guide to African-American Culture, P.O. Box 20103, London Terrace, NY, NY 10011-0008. ROUTES is published 24 times per year, except January 4- 16, 1994 and August 30-September 12, 1994. For advertising rates call (212) 627- 5241. Publisher/E ditor in Chief, Ronald Bunn. Contributing Editorial Staff-Perri Gaffney, Tim Cavanaugh, Horace A. Banbury. Advertising Consultant-Nancie Gray­ Lee; Administrative Assistant-Kimm Farrish. Application to mail at second class postage rate is pending at New York, NY. POS1MASTER: Send address changes to ROUTES, P.O. Box 20103 London Terrace Station, NY 10011-0008. 4 DEATH: 5/24, 1974-DUKE ELLINGTON, BANDLEADER, COMPOSER AND PIANIST of France at the personal request of Supreme Allied Commander Marshal Foch, delighting audiences with this new style in original American music. Led by its Band, the unit returned to New York in late 1918 and, in 1919, was consolidated with the 15th of the New York Guard that had taken its place while it had gone abroad. It returned to its original number, the 15th, and by 1920 had seen the completion of its own Armory, between 142nd and 143rd Streets and Lenox and Fifth Avenues (the original structure now serves as the 'Hellfighters' drill hall). It attract- . ed capable members, such as Major Vertner A. Tandy, New York State's first registered black architect and the U. fames Reese Europe, bandleader composer, designer of Mme. Alelia Walker's andammger "Villa Lewaro," and continued musi­ cal performances and contests in its commanded by Col. W. Woodruff Armory; at one of these, the jazz Chisum (of Harlem's Chisum Place vocalist Trixie Smith was discovered. fame), performed various local By 1930, the present Armory was defense and security duties. completed, and the unit was com­ In 1950, the 369th Anti-Aircraft mander by America's senior African­ was again called to active duty for the American officer, Col. Benjamin 0. Korean War, serving stateside until Davis Sr., who left in 1940 to become 1952, with the 15th N.Y. Guard again America's first black general. assuming local defense duties. After In 1940, the 369th was called to the Korean War, the 369th became a active duty and converted to a Coast Field Artillery Group. Artillery Anti-Aircraft Regiment, In 1974, the 'Harlem Hellfighters' under the command of Col. were finally redesignated to their pre­ Chauncey A. Hooper (commemorat­ sent name, the 369th Transportation ed in Harlem by the General Battalion of the N.Y. Army National Chauncey A. Hooper Towers build­ Guard, and in 1990, became the first ing). It then was sent to Hawaii, its major N.Y. National Guard unit to be place back home being taken by the called up for Operation 'Desert 15th Regiment of the N.Y. Guard. In Storm.' The 369th's Headquarters the Pacific Theatre, the 369th was and its 719th and 1569th split into the 369th Anti-Aircraft Transportation Companies served in Battalion, the 870th Anti-Aircraft Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq, pro­ Battalion, and the 726th Searchlight viding logistical services to the 18th Battery, and again distinguished U.S. Airborne Corps and to other itself, especially at Okinawa, where combat units. They returned to their the gunners of the 8 70th fought as Armory in April of 1991, enthusiasti­ infantry against determined Japanese cally acclaimed by the Harlem com­ attacks. Back in the States, the 15th, munity, and were met by Mayor ROUTES, The Biweekly Guide to African-American Culture, May 24-fune 6, 1994-5 David Dinkins, Congressman Charles In over 80 years, the 369th and Rangel, and Assemblywoman 15th 'Harlem Hellfighters' have con­ Geraldine Daniels. Lt. Col. Francis tributed more than their share to the Kairson, their Commander, received Free World, to the Nation, to the the Bronze Star for his services, while State, and to their Community. They the entire 369th earned the U.S.