Henry Ossian Flipper Becomes First Black West Point Graduate

Henry Ossian Flipper, born into slavery in Georgia, became the first African American to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point on June 14, 1877. Despite four years of social ostracism from white cadets who refused to speak to him, he persevered and was commissioned as a second lieutenant, going on to serve with the Buffalo Soldiers' 10th Cavalry.