Buffalo Soldiers visit to Chester High School

Professor William Shields and Dancer

Retired Cheyney Professor William Shields and Dancer, a retired motorcycle policeman, made an appearance at Chester High School on Veterans Day to share the history of the Buffalo Soldiers. They are both longtime members of the National Association of Buffalo Soldiers & Troopers Motorcycle Clubs (NABSTMC). The NABSTMC originally started in Chicago in 1993. The NABSTMC now has 73 chapters nationwide with a chapter in Pennsylvania. The NABSTMC focus is to promote a positive image among Blacks that would be respected in the community and throughout the country. The club is an active participant in numerous charitable functions including supporting senior citizen homes, student scholarships and food and fund drives for charitable organizations, such as The March of Dimes and Toys for Tots. They have also taken the responsibility to mentor area youth and provide educational programs, which share enlightenment of the heritage that African Americans have played in the United States. “We are also actively involved in recognizing the accomplishments and sacrifices of the Tuskegee Airmen.” The name Buffalo Soldiers was initially selected to pay homage and to ensure the legacy of African American military contributions in the post Civil War era.