NABSTMC™ East Bay Chapter

Buffalo Soldiers - A Little bit of History

Shared by our Chapter Historian, Ethell “Big Wheel” Wilson.

Colonel Allensworth was born in slavery in 1842 in Louisville, Kentucky. He's the youngest of 13 children and he was taught to read secretly by his playmates.

He escaped slavery during the Civil War in 1862 and joined the Union navy as a civilian steward, eventually earning his freedom. He became a chaplain in the United States Army in 1886 with the 24th Infantry Regiment, one of the all black regiments known as the Buffalo Soldiers. He was the first African American chaplain to reach the rank of lieutenant colonel, before retiring in 1906.

He was the founder of Allensworth, California in 1908. After retiring, he helped establish a self-sufficient black community in Tulare county named Allensworth. It was meant to be a model town where African Americans could live free from social discrimination, own land, and thrive through agriculture, education and enterprise. He strongly believed education was the key to progress. He pushed for schools, libraries, educational training, and even helped distribute literature to black troops.

Allensworth (town) declined after his death in 1914, when he was tragically killed after being struck by a motorcycle in Monrovia, California. Today the site is preserved as Colonel Allensworth State Historical Park.

Colonel Allensworth was a minister, soldier, educator and visionary who devoted his life to uplifting black communities through faith, service and self determination. One powerful quote attributed to him, Let us buy land, we must be our own rulers, our own educators, our own moral and social leaders.

National Association of Buffalo Soldiers and Troopers Motorcycle Club™ East Bay Chapter - About Us

We are not a 1% club and we claim no territory. However, we take our club and our membership seriously. Our colors represent a long history, and we wear them with pride and respect. Our colors pay homage to African Americans of the 9th and 10th Cavalry who sacrificed their lives so that our country could be what it is today. They are a badge of courage, sacrifice, and honor as are those who continue to serve. East Bay Chapter is a group of professional men and women that are dedicated to the sport of motorcycle riding and safety. We ride our motorcycles (Iron Horses) to represent the horses that were ridden by the Buffalo Soldiers during the 1800's.

Our Chapter History

Our chapter was established on January 20th, 2008, by Michael "Big Six" Mitchell, Rush “Country” Jackson, Marc "Mr. Mann" Dinkins, and Quincy "Subzero" Ruffin. We are the 3rd chapter established in the Golden State of California.

We are family oriented and started with the purpose of fostering unity and bringing together motorcyclists in the Northern California area for motorcycling related activities such as mini excursions, club rallies and other forms of motorcycling fellowship.

Photo (left to right): Mike "Big Six" Mitchell, Marc "Mr. Mann" Dinkins, Rush “Country” Jackson, Quincy "Subzero" Ruffin.

Our Mission

Our objective is to educate those that are unfamiliar with the Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th and 10th U.S. Cavalries. We feel by doing this the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers of the past will live on forever and shall not be forgotten. Our efforts are pursued in regard to the large sacrifices that were made by not only the Buffalo Soldiers but other African and Native Americans during the pre and post-civil war periods.

Learn More - Buffalo Soldier History

Community Support and Scholarship Fund

East Bay is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and contributor in our local communities within the Western Frontier. We support charitable needs, and provide scholarship opportunities through our annual High School Senior Essay Scholarship Competition.