Beyoncé sparks debate about American history with her T-shirt

A T-shirt is a T-shirt. But the problems start with the print. For Beyoncé, for example. During a concert in Paris a few days ago, the superstar wore a T-shirt with a picture of the "Buffalo Soldiers," a unit of Black soldiers in the US Army. That wouldn't be a problem. Except the T-shirt also has a back. With a longer text that has sparked a debate. About US history. About the national culture of remembrance. And about Beyoncé.

Neither the back of the shirt nor the lyrics were visible at the concert. But on Beyoncé's website, which documents every concert with images, you can read the lyrics. It's a long text that begins innocently enough. It states that Black people have played a much larger role in American military history than is generally known. And no military unit demonstrates this more clearly than the "Buffalo Soldiers." Created by Congress after the Civil War, they fought primarily on the Great Plains, performing valuable but far too little-recognized work.

The belated recognition of a misunderstood minority, then. But then it's said that the opponents of the "Buffalo Soldiers" were "the enemies of peace, order, and settlement": "Warring Indians, bandits, cattle rustlers, murderous gunslingers, smugglers, invaders, and Mexican revolutionaries." The Black soldiers fought against them, bravely and under the most difficult conditions.

This led to heated protests. Representatives of indigenous organizations, historians, and even fans of the singer accused Beyoncé of categorizing the indigenous population of North America as murderers and enemies of peace. She also alleged that she equated the indigenous people with Mexican insurgents while simultaneously glorifying Black people who allowed themselves to be used as accomplices in the land theft initiated by white immigrants.

It's right and important to talk about the "Buffalo Soldiers," historian Chisom Okorafor of the University of San Francisco posted on TikTok. But we must be honest about everything they did, especially in their actions against Native Americans and Mexicans.

The "Buffalo Soldiers" were founded in 1866 and only abolished in 1951: six regiments composed of formerly enslaved Black soldiers. They are said to have received their name from Indigenous people. The dark, curly hair of the Black soldiers reminded them of buffalo fur. In addition to their military duties, the "Buffalo Soldiers" also served as national park managers from the late 19th century onwards.

The story of the "Buffalo Soldiers" has only been addressed in recent years to properly acknowledge the significance of the Black population in US history. Beyoncé apparently tried to insert herself into this debate. With her latest album, "Cowboy Carter," she became the first Black artist to top the US country charts. On the cover, she rides a white horse with the American flag in her hand, which can be interpreted as a sign that she questions country music as a white music.

The cover image is suggestive, the T-shirt with the "Buffalo Soldiers" is a failure. The story of the Soldiers undoubtedly demonstrates that Black people played a largely unknown role in US history. But not just as an oppressed minority. They were also involved in the settlement of the West, as historian Alaina E. Roberts said in the Guardian: "And in some ways, even involved in a kind of genocide." Beyoncé has not yet commented on the debate.