Abstract:
The scope of the research paper focuses on how African Americans utilized Massachusetts' militia. From 1852 till around 1917 black men enlisted in independent and state recognized militia companies. The independent Blues formed in New Bedford, while in Boston there was the Liberty Guard. Over time the latter became L Company of the 6th Infantry Regiment. In a state with a small black population, the military provided an intersection between the elite and lower classes. Together they celebrated black culture and pushed the boundaries of the persistent color line. Local armories helped internal and external communities find some relief from socioeconomic pressures placed upon them. They also allowed access to various forms of social entertainment and amusement. For men, a uniform conveyed manhood which granted access to economic mobility, while it also yielded respectability. Their presence as armed soldiers was a symbolic representation of a more militant approach to secure and defend liberties as citizens. The overall goal of this work is to highlight how participation in the militia
both as soldiers and civilians, became a way to secure a sense of inclusion into society as racial discrimination and political uncertainty grew in the periods.
