BLACK GROUP DEMANDS MIRAMAX/DISNEY RENAME FILM -- Claims Disrespect of Famed Black Regiments

US Newswire via Bloomberg no url | 7/21/3

[NativeNewYorker]

   WASHINGTON, July 21 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Citing racial insensitivity

and the inappropriateness in using the name of a highly-decorated

group of black servicemen in a portrayal of corrupt soldiers, members

of the African-American leadership network Project 21 are demanding

that the Miramax Film Corporation and its parent company The Walt

Disney Company rename its upcoming film ''Buffalo Soldiers.''

   The movie ''Buffalo Soldiers,'' based on a novel of the same name

by Robert O'Connor and set to open in theaters on July 25,

sarcastically portrays the U.S. Army in Germany in the late 1980s as

filled with smugglers, drug abusers, fools and bigots. The movie has

been completed for several years, but Miramax previously delayed its

release because of the events of 9/11 and the war in Iraq. While not

wishing to censor the content of the film, members of Project 21 are

asking Miramax and Disney change the name to keep the film from

incorrectly linking these damaging portrayals of the military with the

black army regiments created after the Civil War that served with

great distinction. 

   ''When the name Buffalo Soldiers is uttered, the only thought that

anyone has is of those brave men who fought valiantly for all of the

people of the United States,'' said Project 21 member Michael King.

''For Miramax and Disney to insult those men and women with this movie

title is simply reprehensible. There is no excuse they can provide

that can explain their complicity in this outrage.''

   Congress created six regiments of black soldiers in 1866. They

served primarily in the western frontiers of the United States, but

also took part in the Battle of San Juan Hill in Cuba and in the

pursuit of Mexican bandit Pancho Villa. They acquired the name Buffalo

Soldiers from the Plains Indians, who associated them with the

fighting spirit of the sacred buffalo. The term was bestowed with

respect, and the black soldiers proudly adopted the name. In 1879, 20

Buffalo Soldiers won the Congressional Medal of Honor for their heroic

efforts in a battle in the New Mexico territory. 

   In contrast, a positive review of the film ''Buffalo Soldiers''

posted on the Internet Movie Database describes the film as ''a dark,

satirical look at the peacetime activities of the U.S. Army in Germany

just before the (Berlin) Wall came down. It offers such a critical

look at the army that every main character turns out to be a swindler,

a wimp, an idiot, a junkie or a psychotic.''

   Project 21 member Geoffrey Moore says, ''This film not only shows

disrespect for our brave American men and women currently serving in

the armed forces, but also shows a callous disrespect and ignorance or

history of African-American contributions to this great nation.''

   King adds, ''This movie would do nothing but tarnish the name of

the Buffalo Soldiers, both past and present, in the minds of the

public. The irresponsibility of the filmmakers borders on criminal in

my mind.''

   Project 21 has been a leading voice of the African-American

community since 1992. For more information, contact David Almasi at

202-371-1400, ext. 106 or Project21(At)nationalcenter.org, or visit

Project 21's Web site at http://www.nationalcenter.org/P21Index.html.

  

[Tijeras_Slim]

Project 21 bump

Go get 'em!

[ClearCase_guy]

Gotta say when I first skimmed this I thought it was a stupid PC effort to rename the actual Buffalo Soldiers from the 19th century. Those were valiant men.

Having actually read this article, I agree that the movie about misbehavior in the 1980's should not carry the name "Buffalo Soldiers".

[prisoner6]

bump for afters

[Vesuvian]

Makes sense to me, when I first heard of the movie I was thinking of some old West cavalry adventures. And then I saw the trailer and said, "Huh?"

Does the term buffalo soldier have any meaning to the film or book?

FYI there is a good article on the real Buffalo Soldiers in the April 2003 issue of Wild West magazine.

[MiddleVillager]

Perhaps a more appropriate title would be Buffalo Chips!

[50sDad]

The protesters in question might actually get something done about stopping the movie. After all, nobody worries about offending the Republicans, but...

[Clara Lou]

When the name Buffalo Soldiers is uttered, the only thought that anyone has is of those brave men who fought valiantly for all of the people of the United States,....This film ... shows disrespect for our brave American men and women currently serving in the armed forces
African-American Leadership is right on the mark.

[goldstategop]

Mooooooo Mooooooooo Water buffalo. I think a student said in jest once to a group of black students at a dormitory he passed by and got cited for "racism." In these politically correct times, people take offense for no reason at the drop of a hat - or in this case a movie title. This one is right up there next to "niggardly."

[StriperSniper]

ConservativeAfrican-American Leadership is right on the mark.

Where is jesse jackass, Rev. Al(Go Al Go!), or Queasy Mstupid?

[Lee'sGhost]

"They acquired the name Buffalo Soldiers from the Plains Indians, who associated them with the fighting spirit of the sacred buffalo."

What? OK, I have no problem with the idea that "Buffalo Soldiers" were great warriors, but the reason the Indians associated them with buffalo is because their nappie hair was similar. I guess that sounds like some kind of insult to the PC nazis, but I see shame in it. Like, Custer should be insulted bec his hair was equated to part of a vegetable -- corn silk.

God, I hate the PC crap.

[SouthernFreebird]

This one is right up there next to "niggardly."

I disagree.... I would say this is a valid complaint.

[LouD]

I agree that the movie about misbehavior in the 1980's

About fictional misbehavior in the 1980s.

I served in Germany in the early and mid 1980s, and I don't remember any "swindlers, a wimps, idiots (well, OK maybe a couple of those), junkies or psychotics."

What I do remember is that a great many of us were expected to die within hours of any Soviet invasion of western Europe - and the Soviets practiced offensive tactics all the time.

I also seem to remember that we did our job well enough that we deterred that invasion for forty years, and eventually saw the collapse of our enemy.

Now some Hollywierd asshole, who no doubt never wore a uniform for a day in his worthless life, sees fit to rewrite history to portray us as buffoons. I hope this movie dies at the box office, and that those involved never work again.

[mhking]

I've been a little bit busy the past week or so...[g]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[goldstategop]

Me too. Another poster disagreed with me but the gist of it is we're running of words that offend no one.

[Lee'sGhost]

Oops. Should have been "I see NO shame in it."

[joesnuffy]

Naw...they got the name from having wooly hair like the buffalo
the indians thought that was pretty cool

[Tax-chick]

I was hoping to see a good action film about the 9th Cavalry, too (maybe with Avery Brooks and Denzel Washington, and that guy who's in all the science fiction shows!).

The Buffalo Soldiers' base at Fort Davis, Texas, has been restored and does reenactments, etc. Well worth a visit for the history; also good Mexican food.

Good for Project 21 - take a stand for the reputations of some real black achievers.

[Lee'sGhost]

"Naw...they got the name from having wooly hair like the buffalo
the indians thought that was pretty cool"


Uh, that's what I said.

[mhking]

The protesters in question might actually get something done about stopping the movie. After all, nobody worries about offending the Republicans, but...

Yes, but unfortunately, we're looked at as being as bad as the remainder of the GOP.

While I hope my quotes get through to someone in management at Disney, I'm not holding my breath.