Following the Black Soldiers Who Biked Across America

If you’ve ever listened to Bob Marley, you’ve probably heard of the Buffalo Soldiers, at least by name. But you might not know about their legendary bicycle journey. VICE News’ Dexter Thomas joined a trip with cycling enthusiast Erick Cedeño to retrace, and rethink, our place in American history.
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[@tenderbuttkiss3732]

Can we get a whole series of stories from this amazing man? He's really inspiring!

[@George_Washington185]

💯💯💯👏🏽

[@andrewgoorhuis]

Thank you Vice for highlighting bicycle travel. The United States becomes a better and kinder place each time someone steps onto a bicycle. I would love to see more.

[@Legendsofrain]

Wow, I wish this episode was longer! Definitely would love to hear more of Erick's stories.

[@BicycleFunk]

He has a bike shop in Arizona, I think it's called Bicycle Nomad or that's what he goes by.

[@AkatsukiShadow]

Much respect to the buffalo soldiers, I first heard about them through Bob Marley's song. Now I know how bad ass they were.

[@airhab]

The ones from the time of the bicycles didn’t commit crimes but the ones from the 1870s were genocidal tools of murder.

[@mikemann1960]

In all of my year's of life, I did not know how far and; treacherous ride that they had.

[@mom_im_losing_it]

Bad ass at killing indigenous peoples. The buffalo soldiers were not heroes they are monster.

[@HarbindBrar]

9:36 "How can we even heal a nation if we don't heal the past or understand our past, more than anything, right? "How do we more forward as a people of this country?" So damn true. This is what America needs, now more than ever.

[@spicyroads]

There’s never going to be enough healing … this will go on forever

[@drelocs2878]

Facts

[@adrianc6534]

good luck. right wingers are doing their best to erase this history. look at desantis and what is doing to the education system in florida. as long as republicans continue to hold office we will continue to devolve and regress.

[@stephenjenkins7971]

That's not possible to begin with. "Healing" often only comes when people forget, or things are good enough to forget. Because constantly bringing it up often brings up bad feelings and mistrust. Kinda like how nobody brings up the mistreatment of Irish Americans eventually making people dismiss it as "something that happened before". Mind you, this doesn't excuse modern mistreatment, but the point is that when people constantly talk about past/modern mistreatment there is often a aspect of politicians bringing it up to maintain their voter base. Ala Al Sharpton.

[@boozhoundlabs]

Amazing. Thank you Erick for connecting us all to history through the inexplicable magic of bicycles.

[@abon1364]

I hope this video was cause for some ambivalence also. It's not just a celebration of bikes. geez.

[@arianar.jordan4979]

Wow. It warms my heart knowing that we as Black folks have a way of communicating with our ancestors and never forgetting about the paths they paved for us and this world.

[@soycapita7602]

Buffalo Soldier, dreadlock Rasta There was a Buffalo Soldier In the heart of America Stolen from Africa, brought to America Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival. " Bob Marley"

[@VeloObscura]

We've been aware of Erick ever since he owned and ran the Bicycle Nomad Café in Phoenix, AZ. Always a great member of the cycling community, I remember seeing all his Instagram photos with all of the bicycle travelers who would come through Phoenix and visit his café. Great guy.

[@tlacuache4448]

Whoa- thank you so much! I knew he looked familiar

[@vircervoteksisto5038]

This guy takes a very honest look at history. It's so refreshing to hear someone talk of history without stars in his eyes or outrage in his voice.

[@dexdigi]

thanks so much for watching!

[@sincerewyd2285]

Iam 1st nation's indigenous native of Canada.. my ancestors went through worse things than u can imagine.. native Americans like me have lots of compassion. We love our planet.. I wish all races were like that .

[@cra_55]

Even with modern equipment and a light load, that would be one hell of a journey. Can't even imagine what they went through back then.

[@brandonc5965]

I did not know this about the bike infantry very intresting

[@EverythingsBeenDone]

This was great! Thank you for covering this

[@lthomas6022]

The US historically creates strife between minority and other suppressed groups to this very day. Poor black people against poor white people, Asian against blacks, blacks against indigenous, indigenous against Mexican. People who should be fighting for the same needs and rights. If you keep people separated, you can keep them from focusing on creating real change. This is true for many countries. Thank you for this story.

[@dexdigi]

as you say, a very common story. thanks so much for watching.

[@SkarryTerry]

Buffalo soldiers were literally slaves that were used to genocide indigenous tribes. So the white man can have the land to enslave those soldiers. Just overall retarded to glorify this history.

[@stephenjenkins7971]

This is just flat out BS propaganda, wtf? The US doesn't "create" strife, that strife is the natural end result of people seeking to better or hurt others -if Hispanics achieve political power to become the "face" of the US, then its at the expense of other groups. The rich whites that supposedly get off from this "strife" themselves fight against each other and other rich people of varying colors. This is just a feel good way to ignore the real issues.

[@ottodidakt3069]

History is complex and deserves to be remembered in detail. Thank you for addressing their use against Natives, they where literally the ham in the sandwich being abused and disrespected and yet also doing some of the dirty work against Natives. The road to healing needs to be travelled in all of it many curves. Peace to all !

[@brandlessheadphones]

Much agreed. Such a contradictory error in racial history that very easily could have been overlooked.

[@robertcanceljr4400]

This is good much respect

[@ConnorAshFreeman]

Fantastic piece. Thank you for this story

[@dexdigi]

thanks so much for watching.

[@kakarikiIck]

Wow. When he got the feeling to take a different route and has that encounter. That was breathtaking.

[@james2450]

One of the best, and most interesting documentaries I've ever watched on youTube - thank you!

[@doccholo905]

This is an awesome history video

[@TravelingOnStardust]

This is so dope! I would LOVE to try something like this, even if it’s for a much shorter distance! 🤩🤩🤩

[@LOLA-xz2ke]

They are brave and fearless! Much respect to them!

[@DJ-tq3xp]

I need to check this guy out on IG for sure.

[@83chared]

You're so beautiful, my god!

[@TravelingOnStardust]

@@83chared Thank you!

[@tacticaltuna]

Look into bikepacking/bike touring. People like pathlesspedaled or Ryan van duzer

[@andrew.l.5493]

Stunning cycling scenery plus a great story. Thank you for taking the time to document.

[@cheryltaylor4894]

Amazing unknown story! I’m so glad to learn this important information. Thank you!

[@slowwerthensnot]

Such a awesome adventure and highlighting a not as well known bit of history for cycling and us history

[@Rhrbbr23]

What a actual good piece by vice news

[@jessshewill333]

I’m so inspired by Erick and his purpose. Incredibly moving

[@Group.B]

Comments starting to fill with trolls. Ignore them.

[@bbyshady]

Interest piece Thanks Vice

[@gotchadigi]

LOVE LOVE this!! Inspiring me to do something like it too 🖤

[@teasianikko]

I want more! That was good

[@robertcanceljr4400]

Sometimes we make decisions that aren't right but to no history and know the difference of right and wrong is so different

[@AdamTravelsTheWorld]

I learned something new today, bikes used in war. Amazing story.

[@drelocs2878]

Erick Need’s a KZbin channel. Would love to hear his stories. ❤️🙌🏾

[@mareerogers364]

I WAS HERE FOR THE ENTIRE 7 DAYS. THE PEOPLE LAID OUT THE RED CARPET FOR US IN MISSOULA, WALLACE IDAHO AND ST.LOUIS,MO. See you in Houston 2023!

[@anarchistfreedom7307]

Awesome thanks 👍

[@cleekmaker00]

You meet interesting, memorable and kind people when travelling by Bicycle. It's one of the most satisfying means of Travel there is. 🚴🙂

[@amiciprocul8501]

I never knew how revolutionary bikes were, they seem so ubiquitous now it almost seemed like they'd been around forever.

[@StudioVegan]

I have been looking for POC who ride cross country for months this makes me so happy 🥰🤗 the history of this is very painful so happy I’m learning from the the past.

[@gmcmullins3251]

Great video. I watch a lot of VICE videos. This is one of the most interesting ones. Biking, history, natives, buffalo soldiers, spirituality, how can you get a better mix than that? Not to mention the majority of the video is on bikes. Makes ya feel like you're riding with them. And yes, history can be dark, all that stuff happened in real time, some didn't know what actually was happening. I dont blame anybody for the most part. Spoken as a Comanche from Oklahoma.

[@dfawkes55]

Wow our history is finally coming together. Erick Cedeno thank you for your enthusiasm and inspiration on the Underground Railroad project. To revive their Dignity is Honoring our Ancestors.

[@mariabrar6290]

Series on this man and his stories

[@nathanngumi8467]

Wow. The Buffalo Soldiers demonstrate how complicated American history is, full of nuance.

[@92bagder]

Read about the 25th a few years back, always thought it would be cool to have a bike race along that route

[@dexdigi]

weirdly enough, there was a major bike race going on at the same time we filmed this that was intersecting with this route! I agree though, it would be pretty cool to see a proper race of this. The tricky thing would be figuring out exactly what the route is, because so many of the original paths are gone or forgotten, or go through what is now private land. But Erick would be the guy to do it.

[@92bagder]

@@dexdigi might not be exact in some areas but the main roads used back then are still used today. At about 1600 miles the tour would be a little shy of the Tour de France and could be just as economical. Attracting racers from around the world. The first bike tour of America

[@pitking503]

wow! a good vice video . i like

[@D-E-S_8559]

Wow! Am not sure if VICE realizes but the closing of this beautiful little documentary has a potential for a very diverse history lesson of the true America...

[@bryanschwertner3585]

Very interesting! The Buffalo Soldier history is also here on the Llano Estacado (plains) of Texas. And when I ride around Tahoka I often think of an incident involving them and Comanche Chief Quanah Parker, among other Comanches. A good read is The Buffalo Soldier Tragedy of 1877 by Paul H Carlson, Texas Tech Professor emeritus of history.

[@ReimaginedAdventures]

love it !!! happy labor day

[@ericclaptonsrobotpilot7276]

Check out the team of black alpinists that did an Everest expedition this spring. Expedition Full Circle

[@jacksonshelby2460]

Inspiring

[@tecpaocelotl]

Pretty positive guy. Needs a part 2. I'm glad you bring up buffalo soldiers killing natives. Usually it's brushed off as though it was nothing.

[@rasheedlowery]

Vice, I know of a Professor who studied US and Southern history. Her dissertation was about the correlation between historically Black Towns and the Underground Railroad. Dr. Boles of Rice U (Houston, TX) rejected it, denying the truths she uncovered about historically Black Towns in North America. It’s called the Black Towns project.

[@Errordemn6]

This was a good video. I didn't know the Buffalo Soldiers did that to the natives

[@porkchopproductions0314]

Anybody know what bags where on the guy's front wheel?

[@jeremykyle9352]

Fascinating

[@alantate25]

So that’s what Bob Marley meant when he was singing 🎶 “Buffalo Soldier” 🎶

[@gullyfoyle3915]

Yes. Reggae hadn't become popular with black people in the U.S., and that song was an attempt by him to appeal to that audience and cross over (and also to appeal to pan-Africanism and "one love"), but it didn't really work at the time. Black America then was mainly interested in it's own music forms: funk, disco, soul, R&B, motown, blues, and jazz. The primary U.S. audience for reggae during Bob Marley's lifetime was white college kids and musicians. Reggae has a much broader reach and appeal today. Fela Kuti and Afrobeat also never really crossed over at the time, but people in the U.S. have slowly discovered it since then.

[@joshuatoledo8844]

Well done!

[@ARCTERYXSWEATSHOP]

incredible

[@STEVEVARVOUNIS]

I LOVE IT!

[@chokeizm]

AMAZING but tooo short ... got to the end wanting MOREEEEEEEEEEEEEE once again vice u have not HELPED SUPPORT THIS MAN SHARE HIS SOCIALS?? KZbin ETC???

[@Wardawg-]

I know about the Buffalo Soldiers but i didn't know they used bikes. Wow.

[@omaroba1490]

Awesome

[@coryhobbs5386]

So cool

[@rayreyes7094]

Brilliant

[@aaronedgeart]

Awe. Some.

[@roberta9833]

💚

[@charlesmiv3842]

Gravel bikes ❤️

[@RK-jz8ns]

I wished the story of the Buffalo soldiers and the Native Americans was told with proper context in this video. Both groups were victims.

[@tylerhackner9731]

Respect to them

[@wrighthartlane2315]

2,000 miles fucking hell 😳

[@EnriqueHernandez-sr3yi]

Muy interesante 👌🏿

[@UnblestMATT]

"That's US history." People trying to be free, subjecting others. Rinse and repeat, but it's still an ideal.

[@92bagder]

thats human history

[@dudeguy818]

That’s the reality of 20+ countries in Africa today too. Rinse and repeat.

[@terejosh13]

@@dudeguy818 and Russia and Ukraine

[@2104dh]

how on earth is this only at 46k views?

[@ikepren3696]

I literally just saw a video on this on the Biographics channel

[@user-qg7fh5om7m]

🤔 So much history about my people that has never been told. My apologies to the Native Indians for the things my people were made to do. 😞

[@fastinradfordable]

Respect

[@mareerogers364]

Native Americans enslaved our people, some fought on the confederate side. Gen.Stan Waite was a confederate fighting to keep us enslaved. The 5 Civilized Tribes were called this because they took on the attitudes and beliefs of the colonizers. Today, some tribes are disenrolling Black members of their tribes. The actor Don Cheadle's ancestors were enslaved by Native people in Oaklahoma. History is fascinating.

[@stephenjenkins7971]

It was hardly one or the other, at one time or another groups have done terrible things. A lot of Native American tribes fought alongside the Confederacy to maintain slavery of African Americans for their own benefit. Apologies are meaningless; accepting the past and trying to do better is what's important.

[@tipsysmichigander6483]

You can hear in their voices who road in a car 90% of the way and got out for video to look like they biked and who actually made the trip...

[@tamaraj4200]

They were taking it easy and only the one guy did the whole trip. The vice guy only did some of the trip.

[@tipsysmichigander6483]

@@tamaraj4200 yes but the title suggests otherwise...

[@richardtedyell3350]

Not really. Also, that's besides the point anyway. It's not an endurance event.

[@tipsysmichigander6483]

@@richardtedyell3350 Not really what? What an odd response. We are aware it is not an endurance event. Are you slow?

[@richardtedyell3350]

'not really' as in the title does not really suggest the reporter goes the full distance. And even if it DID falsely suggest that, it's irrelevant because that's not the point of the video. Are you tipsy already?

[@dee.tyson1]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@marvinserrano2782]

Can you please do a interview on a Latin American family for etc Salvadorian , Honduras , Mexico etc that would be amazing

[@CE000]

as an European I love seeing those guys cycle

[@rocketRobScott]

I was on the verge of leaving Anchorage AK by bike in the summer of 2016. She talked me out if it. I wonder what that version of me would be now? Probably eaten by wild animals.

[@SOLDAT_NG]

Do it

[@bodyboardingchronicles602]

Long! Live! the United State's of America! TANKERS LEAD THE WAY 👊😎

[@khalidalali186]

Natives owned black slaves as well. If they’re against the “Buffalo Soldiers” they might wanna address that too, no? And unlike this one incident, the Natives owned black slaves for centuries.

[@freethinking2905]

Yeah, the so-called Five Civilized Tribes assimilated into whiteness by mimicking them - everything from the way they spoke, their style of dress, adopting Christianity, and owning slaves. In recent history, we saw the Seminole tribe deny black Native Americans (Freedmen) Covid vaccines. The history between blacks and Native Americans need to be explored in its entirety.

[@JJadx]

pro tips from a Dutchie for Americans getting into cycling. attach cargo to the back, get one with a cargo rack & bags there. your steering wheel is balanced by your hands so it's more tiring to balance the weight too. the back ain't. Really interesting video. much more than just another bike story like i expected. as for bikes, instead of looking to us, look at your own history to inspire transportation change. you've got plenty. from this, to US paratroopers in WW2 who dropped with folding bicycles.

[@airhab]

Cargo racks on the back make maintenance harder plus you don’t need much steering when you’re out of the city biking for hundreds of miles in a straight line.

[@JJadx]

@@airhab this is not true because you balance with the steering wheel. Just try cicling with the steering wheel welded stuck. ;) A basic Cargo rack doesn't impact maintainance. It's just one extra beam next to the main one of the frame. Repairing the tire doesn't onvolve replacing the whole wheel but even if you do there's no difference.

[@mikevids8107]

why is it any time vice makes a video on a race you get comments flooded with “well what about this race? what about this event? what about this? what about that?” like the video is like 30 min old and there’s already people asking for a “white soldiers biking across america video”. this is why we can’t have nice things

[@Group.B]

Bro they are almost always trolls meant to agitate and subvert the discussion away from historical fact.

[@kalui96]

whataboutisms come out reflexively, its the level of discourse they have to offer like little kids throwing a tantrum really. but what about butbutbut

[@dexdigi]

eh, it always happens, so I'm used to it. I'm just grateful people took the time to watch something we made!

[@scj3188]

White ppl are so used to being centered that its destabilizing whenever they are not.

[@scj3188]

@@dexdigi EXCELLENT work as always Dexter.

[@TheTonialadd]

What??? I grew up in Montana and I never learned about these guys! Go figure…☹️

[@ka0spm]

I would let the Bicycle Corps stay in my back yard anytime. Don't have a big enough house for them all :)

[@g.m3399]

Just say following American war veterans or army travelling across the USA .

[@arunvdk1758]

😲❤️

[@mom_im_losing_it]

They road fixed gear

[@apersonontheinternet3538]

Chads

[@sethlogee]

Also I wonder if there is any first person account what the buffalo soldiers thought about them being used for white supremacy aims.

[@FPSAlann]

he slept in one of the owner most slaves in south tennese, thats is something wow!!!:O

[@bbyshady]

Following the buffalo soldiers that biked across America. There fixed the title for you

[@mcnugget7403]

Yooo

[@kcdiazWTV]

I don't know. If someone invites me to their basement to show me "history." I'd probably say, nah it's cool. 🤣

[@jaykillxreaperofdeath6967]

Respect for vice for showing the darker side of the buffalo soldiers. But these men were following the orders of their white officers And I say this as a right leaning political entity. Yes they could have refused but if I was one of them my own freedom would trump that of others and I don't believe you can blame someone for that.

[@donniezawadski2047]

True , something probably said by gangs in LA . Just keep following orders hu 😂

[@Jacksirrom]

I am stunned to see a Murdoch/Disney/Soros/A&E/TPG owned Vice news ask for viewer donations. Absolute dystopia. These corpos do not need your money, don't give it to them!

[@9ninrninr947]

Thats whats important. So important its in the title. His race...

[@nickwhitestar7646]

👉💥👈

[@jdagreat4595]

Would have been better if title read “American soldiers “ but none less this was amazing

[@GFarrsight]

To be fair. isnt it akin to doing something like calling the irish potato famine the european potato famine? Its just as accurate to say that but you wouldnt know how deeply if affected the irish people because their role in it has been erased by the "European" moniker. Its not racist or whatever to point out that a specific group of people was affected by something. They were called Buffalo soldiers and the significance of that is tied to their skin color. I wish darker skin didn't matter then or now but obviously it does to a LOT of people including the many in positions of power. So in this case pointing out that they were black indeed is relevant as it tells a huge part of why this is even a story to begin with.

[@9ninrninr947]

@@GFarrsight Okay, first, I don't think that analogy works too well because its a specific nation.. Second, this is just perpetuating the fact that A LOT of people care waaaay too much about skin colors. Yes, in this one case it is related to race...somewhat. But this is an everyday occurrence for KZbin titles. Especially if its on channels that call themselves "news". We've all seen it thousands of times. If its a blk man being shot or anything that will gain sympathy or praise, the title WILL call them a blk man. But if its a hwhite man in any of those situations, its just man. On the flip side, if its a blk person commiting something heinous, its a real shock if they even show the mug shot, let alone putting a race in the title. Yet if its a white person even seeming like they did something wrong, its in the title 14 times.... This is Vice. They're the racist ones who care waaaaay too much about skin colors. And besides, they could have put something about Buffalo Soilders in the title and that would have been way more helpful anf descriptive...

[@scj3188]

Stop whining, white boy.