one of Braxton Rutledge, at one point bare-chested because he has been wounded by the
Apache, alone with the lovely young Mary Beecher, but protecting her, and even addressing
the fact that she represents “trouble” for a black man like him. This scene is an example of
Ford’s film taking on the stereotype head-on and countering. And, if Rutledge personifies
blackness on trial, this film represents one instance where the black man is found not guilty, in
spite of the earlier specter of a racist courtroom and threatening lynch mob.
As much as Sergeant Rutledge is a tribute film, it is also a film about injustice. One of
the most poignant scenes within the film occurs when Braxton Rutledge holds a dying comrade
in his arms, and they speak of what their service means, both to them, their children, and the
black race in general. The dying CpI. Moffett says to Rutledge, “My three little girls. What’s
going to happen to them, Brax?” To this, Rutledge replies, “Someday, Moffett, they are gonna
be awful proud of you.” With his last words, Moffett makes another statement question about
legacy and sacrifice, “We’re fools to fight the white man’s war.” To this, Rutledge replies, “It
ain’t the white man’s war. We’re fighting to make us proud. Someday your little girls . . . . ” By
the time Rutledge utters these words, his comrade is dead, but the effect of the scene lingers
on, offering up an image of proud black men who sacrificed their lives in spite of the injustices
surrounding them as second-class citizens. This scene brings to mind the “Double V”
campaign, which was waged by the black press and community during WWII. The slogan
“Double V” stood for victory both abroad, in the war effort, and victory at home, against racism.
For Rutledge and his fellow buffalo soldiers, there is always a double battle to be waged,
albeit, in this instance, against another ostracized group, Native Americans. Clearly, that is the
impetus behind the actions of Braxton Rutledge and his comrades, acceptance as men and as
Americans. They must show their allegiance to country and flag, even though they recognize
the racism which they confront. Thus, ultimately, the film asks its black characters, particularly
while they are fighting and dying, this question: “to whom, ultimately, do you have allegiance?"
And, according to Braxton Rutledge, that allegiance is both to one another, as “Buffalo
Soldiers," and also to the American flag, for through their allegiance to duty and country, they
hope to combat and defeat racism, if not for themselves, then for future generations.
That theme, allegiance, is also evident in the character of Pompey, played by Woody
Strode in Ford’s masterpiece, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, a film about the settling, or
perhaps even the taming, of the West. Within the film, there are different methodologies which
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