Harlem Hellfighters

The Harlem Hellfighters was one of the most highly decorated American units in World War I. They spent more time in continuous combat than any similar American unit: 191 days on the front lines and suffered more losses than any other American regiment, with more than 1,400 total casualties. Their courage earned them fame in Europe and America and the French government awarded a Croix de Guerre citation to the unit.

 I had never heard of this unit until I ran across an extraordinary quilt in the Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C., a few years ago. The quilt itself is extraordinary and I couldn’t stop looking at it. It was created by Bisa Butler from a famous black and white photograph of the unit. The photo here is a snapshot of a postcard I brought home — look up the quilt to get a better idea of how amazing it is!

#BlackHistoryMonth

February 3, 2026

Blog Categories

Contact

Need help with your article or advertisement? Want someone to give your book a final look? Drop us a line or give us a call—we’d love to have a word with you.

Testimonials

 I wanted to take a moment and thank you for your wonderful work. I marvel at your eye for detail and your ability to make a written text so much better.
Patrick Allen, Professor, George Fox University

You May Also Like…

Alex Haley

Alex Haley began his career as an author by ghost-writing love letters for his less eloquent shipmates while serving...

John M. Perkins

Born into poverty in 1930 in Mississippi, John M. Perkins rose to become a civil rights legend, counselor to...

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass never knew exactly when he was born, as birthdates were rarely recorded for slaves. But he chose to...

0 Comments