Dante Learns New Black History: Cathay Williams

It is time to play catch up because it is already the 4th day of Black History Month and my ass haven't posted in days. Today I heard about this lady named Cathay Williams who was born in September 1844. She was the first Black woman to enlist in the United States Army...as a man! That's right! She used the name William Cathay. Surprise, y'all! She was born in Independence, Missouri to a father that was free and a mother that was a slave. Which means that she was a slave. Isn't it fucked up how that works? While working as a slave in Jefferson City the Union forces would straight up claim Black folk as contraband and and force them to help support the military as nurses and cooks.

Women were not allowed to serve in the military so Cathay used a fake name and served for three years. She passed a medical examination which makes me wonder what these consisted of. Probably made sure you could hold a weapon or lift something kinda heavy. It is said only two people knew she was a lady: a friend and a cousin. Y'all be sleeping on how loyal cousins are! Keep your brothers and sisters. Cousins are the shit. After her enlistment she got smallpox and then joined her unit. She started getting sick more often and after having surgery the doctor discovered that Cathay was a woman. She was then discharged and her life got pretty miserable after that. Why? She was a Black woman living in the 1800's, that's why. In September in 1893 a doctor said that she did not qualify for disability payments despite the fact that she served in the military, had a nerve disease, and diabetes where she had all her toes amputated. There are two other not Black women who were able to get coverage but...yeah. Black. 1800's. Eventually I am gonna cover something that is really cool or funny. I mean, its cool that she was able to do what she did and fight in the military back then. But damn. Also it seems I wrote about her five years ago...

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Famous Black Firsts: First Black Female To Enlist Cathay Williams

Born in 1844 Cathay Williams was the daughter of a free man from Missouri and a slave which meant for all intents and purposes, legally she was a slave. Yeah. I know. During the American Civil War captured slaves were considered contraband so they were forced to serve in the military as cooks and nurses. 

Cathay joined the Union army at the age of 17 by pretending to be a man named William Cathay. This means that Cathay was not only the first Black female to enlist as an American Soldier, but that she is the only one documented to have posed as a man and get in. She served in the 8th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Too many words.

After being present in multiple battles when the war ended she still wanted to continue. She joined the Regular Army and passed herself off as a man for three more years. It is said that only two other people knew her secret: a cousin and a friend who were also soldiers alongside her. After getting smallpox, I say it as if its a present, she was finally discovered by a doctor who snitched. She was discharged in 1868. Afterward she worked as a cook in New Mexico and then while living in Pueblo, Colorado her husband stole all her money and horses. She had his ass arrested and moved again working as a seamstress. By 1876 the story of her service got around but did her little to no good as by 1890 she got sick and could not get any disability help. A couple of other women had done what she did but they were White and got help from famous friends. No one is sure exactly when she died but they guesstimate around 1892 and no one knows where she is buried because Black. This woman was a champion of champions and schools should be ashamed that she was never talked about.

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