Welcome to another episode of Unfit to be Bound: Black History Unchained on the NBG Podcast Network, where we uncover the stories of remarkable Black men and women who defied the odds and created lasting legacies. In this episode, your host, Professor Freedom X Justice, delves into the inspiring story of Cathay Williams, the first African-American woman to enlist in the United States Army, posing as a man under the name William Cathay.
Born into slavery in 1844, Cathay Williams' journey from servitude to soldierhood is a testament to her courage and resilience. During the Civil War, she worked with the Union Army, which laid the foundation for her audacious decision to disguise herself as a man and enlist in the military in 1866.
Join us as we celebrate Cathay Williams' remarkable story and her enduring impact on history. Don't miss this enlightening episode, and be sure to subscribe to the podcast for more tales of extraordinary individuals in Black history.
For more great podcast visit NBGPodcastNetwork.com
00:00:01 --> 00:00:08 Welcome to another episode of Unfit to be Bound, Black History Unchained on
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 the MBG Podcast Network,
00:00:10 --> 00:00:16 where we uncover the stories of remarkable Black men and women who defied the
00:00:16 --> 00:00:19 odds and created lasting legacies.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:25 I'm your host, Professor Freedom X Justice, and today we're going to explore
00:00:25 --> 00:00:31 the story of a trailblazer who challenged not just the limitations of her race,
00:00:31 --> 00:00:32 but of her gender as well.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:38 Her name is Cathay Williams, and she holds the distinction of being the first
00:00:38 --> 00:00:45 African-American woman to enlist in the United States Army, posing as a man.
00:00:45 --> 00:00:50 You heard me right. Cathay Williams enlisted as a soldier in the United States
00:00:50 --> 00:00:58 Army under the name William Cathay, becoming the first black woman to serve as a buffalo soldier.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:02 If you've never heard of her name before, don't worry.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05 Cathay Williams' story is one that has often been overlooked,
00:01:05 --> 00:01:09 but today we're going to bring her story back into light.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:16 Cathay Williams was born in September 1844 in Independence, Missouri.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:20 Like many black children of her time, Cathay was born into to slavery.
00:01:20 --> 00:01:24 Her mother was an enslaved woman, while her father was a free man.
00:01:24 --> 00:01:29 This complex family dynamic was common during the pre-Civil War era,
00:01:29 --> 00:01:34 but it meant that Cathay's early life was shaped by the harsh realities of being
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 considered property under law.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:39 She was put to work on a plantation in Jefferson City, Missouri,
00:01:39 --> 00:01:44 and like so many enslaved people, her childhood was filled with hard labor and
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 constant denial of basic human rights.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:51 However, in 1861, the winds of change began to blow.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:57 The Civil War had erupted and the Union forces were advancing through Confederate-held territory.
00:01:58 --> 00:02:02 When Union troops took control of Jefferson City, enslaved people like Cathay
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 found themselves in a strange limbo.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:09 The Union army freed enslaved people in occupied territories,
00:02:09 --> 00:02:15 but also impressed many into service as cooks, laundresses, and nurses.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:20 Cathay was one of the women freed, but then forced to work for the Union Army.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:24 At the time, she had no idea that this experience would shape her future in
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 ways she could never have imagined.
00:02:28 --> 00:02:31 For the next few years, Cathay Williams traveled with the Union Army,
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 working as a cook and a washerwoman.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 She was stationed in various locations from Missouri to Louisiana,
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 and even as far as West New Mexico.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:45 Through these experiences, she became familiar with the life of a soldier,
00:02:45 --> 00:02:48 seeing their discipline, training, and camaraderie.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:52 She also witnessed firsthand the hardships and dangers soldiers faced,
00:02:52 --> 00:02:56 especially black soldiers and the United States colored troops,
00:02:56 --> 00:03:01 who were often treated with far less respect than their white counterpart.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:07 By the time the Civil War ended in 1865, Cathay had been part of military life
00:03:07 --> 00:03:11 for years, but her options as a black woman in the post-war era were limited.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:17 Though slavery had been abolished, freedom didn't necessarily translate into opportunity.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:22 Faced with poverty and few prospects for work, Cathay made a daring and audacious decision.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:28 She would enlist in the U.S. Army, but to do so, she had to disguise herself as a man.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:35 In November 1866, Cathay Williams enlisted in the U.S.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:41 Army under the alias William Cathay. At the time, women were barred from military
00:03:41 --> 00:03:46 service, so Cathay, now William, bound her chest, dressed in men's clothing,
00:03:46 --> 00:03:49 and stood shoulder to shoulder with other recruits.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:55 Remarkably, she passed a cursory medical examination, which wasn't nearly as
00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 thorough as one might expect for an enlistment process.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:03 At just 5 feet 9 inches tall, she blended in with the other male soldiers.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:09 Her true identity, a well-kept secret. Cathay was assigned to the 38th U.S.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:14 Infantry Regiment, one of the four all-black regiments formed after the Civil
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 War, which became known as the Buffalo Soldiers.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:23 These regiments were tasked with serving on the western frontier where they protected settlers.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:27 And engaged in conflicts with the Native American tribes.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:32 The conditions were harsh, and the soldiers were constantly on the move.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:38 Despite these challenges, Cathay, posing as William Cathay, served for nearly two years.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:43 The Buffalo soldiers were a tough, disciplined force, but the realities of military
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 life in the 19th century were grueling.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:51 Soldiers faced long marches, harsh weather, poor supplies, and dangerous encounters.
00:04:51 --> 00:04:56 For Cathay, these hardships were compounded by the constant threat of discovery.
00:04:56 --> 00:05:00 She had to conceal her identity from everyone, even her fellow soldiers.
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 But Cathay Williams was nothing if not resilient.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:08 She had already survived slavery and the brutality of war. She wasn't about
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 to let gender norms stop her.
00:05:11 --> 00:05:15 However, the strain on Cathay's body eventually began to take its toll.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:20 She suffered from smallpox and other illnesses during her time in the army,
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 and the physical demands of military life wore her down.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:27 Despite her best efforts, she could no longer hide her deteriorating health.
00:05:27 --> 00:05:33 In 1868, she was hospitalized, and it was during the time that the doctor discovered her secret.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:36 Cathay Williams, William Cathay, was a woman.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:41 Her remarkable journey as a soldier came to an end when she was discharged from
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 the army later that year due to health problems.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:48 Although Cathay's military career ended prematurely, her story was far from
00:05:48 --> 00:05:51 over. After her discharge, she returned to civilian life.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:55 Though once again faced with the economic struggles of being a black woman in
00:05:55 --> 00:06:00 the post-Civil War era, she worked various jobs, including as a cook and laundress,
00:06:01 --> 00:06:04 and even applied for a military pension in 1891.
00:06:04 --> 00:06:09 Unfortunately, her request was denied as the pension office cited her brief
00:06:09 --> 00:06:14 service and her gender as disqualifying factors. But despite these setbacks,
00:06:14 --> 00:06:18 Cathay Williams' legacy is one of courage, resilience, and defiance.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:22 She didn't just challenge the racial barriers of her time. She broke through
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 the gender barrier as well.
00:06:24 --> 00:06:30 In a world that sought to bind her both race and gender, Cathay refused to let either define her.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:35 She took control of her destiny, daring to do what no other black woman had
00:06:35 --> 00:06:39 done before her, serve as a soldier in the United States Army.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:45 Cathay Williams' story is a testament to the indomitable human spirit.
00:06:46 --> 00:06:51 She lived in a time when the odds were stacked against her in every possible way.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:55 Yet she found a way to carve out a place for herself in history.
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 Her story reminds us that courage is not defined by circumstances,
00:06:58 --> 00:07:02 but by the choices we make in the face of adversity.
00:07:02 --> 00:07:06 While she didn't receive the recognition she deserved during her lifetime,
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 her legacy lives on today. day.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:12 In recent years, there has been a growing effort to honor Cathay Williams and
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 her contributions to history.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:19 In 2016, a statue of her was erected in Leavenworth, Kansas,
00:07:19 --> 00:07:24 recognizing her as the first African-American woman to serve in the U.S. military.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:30 Cathay Williams' life is an example of what it means to be truly unfit to be bound.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:35 She broke the chains of both race and gender and and prove that when it comes
00:07:35 --> 00:07:39 to the fight for freedom and equality, there are no limits to what a determined
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 individual can achieve.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:46 Thank you for joining me for this episode of Unfit to be Bound,
00:07:46 --> 00:07:50 Black History Unchained on the NBG Podcast Network.
00:07:50 --> 00:07:54 I hope Cathay Williams' story has inspired you as much as it has inspired me.
00:07:55 --> 00:08:00 She was a trailblazer in every sense of the word, and her legacy deserves to
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 be remembered and celebrated.
00:08:01 --> 00:08:06 If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and share
00:08:06 --> 00:08:11 it with others who are eager to learn about the lesser known figures in black
00:08:11 --> 00:08:15 history who refuse to accept the limitations imposed on them.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:22 As always, I'm Professor Freedom X Justice reminding you that our history is unfit to be bound.
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