In a landmark acknowledgment of official racism in America, the U.S. Army has set aside the court-martial convictions of 110 African American soldiers from a century ago. Among them were 19 soldiers who were executed. The Army Board for Correction of Military Records overturned the convictions, stating that the soldiers were denied fair trials due to racial discrimination. This decision restores the service records of these soldiers, characterizing their military service as honorable and making their descendants eligible for military benefits.

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth expressed the Army's recognition of past mistakes and the need to set the record straight, stating, "After a thorough review, the Board found that these soldiers were wrongly treated because of their race and were not given fair trials." This reversal comes at a time when right-wing politicians and parents are banning books dealing with race and slavery in schools, and the U.S. Supreme Court is striking down affirmative action policies intended to promote racial equality in university admissions.

The convictions in question arose from the Houston Riots of August 23, 1917. Months of racist taunts against the Black soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, known as the Buffalo Soldiers, led to an outbreak of violence. Black soldiers guarding a military property were subjected to racist slurs and physical attacks. In response, about 100 fellow Black soldiers marched into the city to aid their comrades. The violence that ensued resulted in the deaths of 19 people.

The Army courts-martial convicted a total of 110 Black soldiers, including 19 who received the death penalty. Historians later determined that the trial process was marred by "numerous irregularities." The Army's review board concluded that the court-martial cases were fundamentally unfair, leading to the decision to set aside all the convictions.

The mass execution of the 19 soldiers remains the largest carried out by the Army of American soldiers in history. The first group of men was hanged in secret within a day of sentencing. However, the convictions have now been overturned, thanks to the South Texas College of Law's petition to review the cases and retired officers' requests for clemency.

The Army's Public Affairs office announced that the convictions of the 110 Black soldiers have been set aside. The military service records of these soldiers, also known as the "Buffalo Soldiers," will be corrected and characterized as honorable. The Secretary of the Army, Christine Wormuth, affirmed the Army's recognition of racial discrimination, stating, "After a thorough review, the Board has found that these soldiers were wrongly treated because of their race and were not given fair trials."

The soldiers' arrests followed the Houston Riots of 1917. These soldiers, part of the 3rd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, were assigned to guard a construction site for white soldiers in Houston. However, they faced racial slurs and physical violence from white residents. After two Black soldiers were assaulted and violently arrested, over 100 Black soldiers took up arms and marched into Houston, anticipating further threats. Violent clashes ensued, resulting in the deaths of 19 people.

The Army's subsequent conviction of these soldiers was marked by injustice, as later acknowledged by the Army. The soldiers were represented by a single officer without legal training, and the military court deliberated for only two days before convicting the first 58 soldiers. Less than 24 hours later, the first 13 soldiers were hanged. The quick executions prompted a regulatory change to prevent future executions without a review by the War Department and the president. However, by September 1918, 52 additional soldiers had been convicted, and six more had been executed.

The Army Board for Correction of Military Records conducted a thorough review of each case, ultimately concluding that the soldiers had been subjected to racial discrimination and denied fair trials. Consequently, the board unanimously recommended setting aside all the convictions and characterizing the soldiers' military service as honorable.

At a ceremony held in the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston to mark this decision, a white-gloved soldier rang a bell for each soldier's name as they were read aloud. A staff sergeant then sang “Amazing Grace” after a moment of silence. This day was seen as a day of atonement for the Jim Crow-era South and legalized segregation.

For Jason Holt, the nephew of Pfc. Thomas C. Hawkins, one of the soldiers executed in 1917, this acknowledgment brings some solace. Holt read aloud the names of the first 13 soldiers who were hanged, honoring their memory. Holt's uncle had proclaimed his innocence in a letter to his parents before his execution, expressing his acceptance of God's will. While no justice can truly replace a lost life, Holt believes his uncle died with forgiveness in his heart. Granting these soldiers honorable discharges is seen as a step towards justice, bringing a sense of peace to their souls.

The Army's decision to set aside the convictions was prompted by a petition written by historian John Haymond and lawyer Dru Brenner-Beck, which outlined the soldiers' denial of due process and other basic rights. The Army's acknowledgment of the injustice and the subsequent rectification of these convictions is seen as a long-overdue achievement of justice. Angela Holder, the great-niece of Cpl. Jesse Moore, one of the 13 soldiers hanged in 1917, expressed joy at the removal of the words "terminated by death without honor" from her great-uncle's record. Holder believes justice has finally been served, and the soldiers' honorable service will be rightfully acknowledged.