Historian to discuss African-American WWI regiment

Historian Hari Jones, curator at Chicago's DuSable Museum of African-American History, will visit Cantigny Park next week to discuss the Fighting Eighth, an African-American World War I combat unit.

Jones will lead a discussion titled "Clearing a Path for Democracy: Citizens Soldiers of the Fighting Eighth in World War I" beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, in the Cantigny Visitors Center, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Admission and parking are free.

Organized as an all-volunteer regiment in 1898 for service during the Spanish-American War, the 8th Infantry Illinois National Guard later fought in World War I as the 370th United States Infantry. Nicknamed the Fighting Eighth, it was one of the few African-American combat units to serve in the Great War and the only one commanded entirely by black officers. Its motto was "One Country, One Flag."

Sources for Jones' presentation include letters, reports and books written by the citizen soldiers who served in the regiment, which hailed from Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood. A documentary about the historic regiment, renowned for its valor, recently aired on PBS television. The Victory Monument stands in the regiment's honor at 35th and King Drive in Chicago.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. A cash bar and limited food menu will be available. Coffee is complimentary.

This event is part of the First Division Museum's Date with History, an ongoing series of discussions with authors, panelists, historians and special guests. For information, visit fdmuseum.org.