“Can you see their faces in the granite?” I ask gesturing to the African American Marine Corps Memorial. This memorial stands as a powerful reminder of courage and sacrifice. It honors the Eighth Regiment of the Illinois National Guard. This was an African-American unit that served bravely in France during World War I. It may be the only memorial statue dedicated to African-American soldiers of the Great War.
The Victory Monument stands tall in the Black Metropolis-Bronzeville District. It is in the Douglas community on Chicago’s South Side. The African American Marine Corps Memorial was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 30, 1986. It gained further recognition as a Chicago Landmark on September 9, 1998. Every Memorial Day, a special ceremony occurs right here.
The African American Marine Corps Memorial has a white granite shaft. A bronze doughboy sculpture tops it. This sculpture was added in 1936. Three bronze relief panels adorn the shaft. These panels depict life-sized figures. The Victory Panel shows an African-American woman. She represents motherhood and holds a victory branch. The Columbia Panel features a helmeted woman. She holds a tablet listing battles where African-American soldiers fought. The African-American Soldier Panel shows a bare-chested soldier from the 370th Infantry. He stands with an eagle. This regiment fought in France.
In 1927, Illinois erected this monument in Bronzeville. This area was home to the “Fighting Eighth” Regiment. The names of 137 members who died in World War I are inscribed on a bronze panel. The Eighth Regiment became the 370th U.S. Infantry. They served on WWI battlefields. They were the last regiment pursuing Germans in the Aisne-Marne region before the Armistice.
This wasn’t always the location for a monument. In 1908, there were plans for the Fountain of the Great Lakes to be installed here. It ultimately found another home.
The Bud Billiken Parade often passes by this monument. The parade sometimes starts very near the African American Marine Corps Memorial.
The monument received a grant in 2017. This grant was for restoration work as part of World War I centennial activities.
There are four bronze panels on the African American Marine Corps Memorial. A sculpture of a soldier stands atop the monument. To the north, a court features plaques. These plaques honor notable figures. To the south, a flagpole flies the United States flag, the Flag of Chicago, and the POW/MIA flag. The African American Marine Corps Memorial stands as a testament. It honors the legacy of African-American soldiers.