Henry O Flipper Primary Source Investigation Name______________________________Homeroom________________ Date_______

This is an excerpt from The Colored Cadet at West Point, the autobiography of Lieutenant Your Response:
Henry Ossian Flipper. He is known for being the first graduate of color from the U.S. Where & When was
this source written?
Military Academy. 2nd Lieutenant Flipper began his military service in 1878 as a 10th Historical
What else was
Cavalry Buffalo Solider at Fort Sill, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). In 1880, after many Context going on at the
frontier skirmishes with American Indians, Lt. Flipper and his 10th Cavalry Buffalo time?
Soldiers headed for service at Fort Davis, Texas. In this excerpt, Flipper discusses how he Who was this
source meant for?
was treated at West Point U.S. Military Academy. Who wrote this
source?
"How do they treat you?" "How do you get along?" and multitudes of Audience &
How does his/her
Author age, gender, job,
analogous questions have been asked me over and over again. Many have asked them
nationality, race,
for mere curiosity's sake, and to all such my answers have been as short and abrupt as religion, etc.,
was consistent with common politeness. I have observed that it is this class of people impact this source?
who start rumors, sometimes harmless, but more often the cause of needless trouble What is the point of
view of the author?
and ill-feeling. I have considered such a class dangerous, and have therefore avoided Point of View What did this
them as much as it was possible… person think/feel/
believe/know?
Why was this
There are some, indeed the majority of the corps are such, who treat me on all Purpose source created?
occasions with proper politeness. They are gentlemen themselves, and treat others as it What does this
becomes gentlemen to do. They do not associate, nor do they speak other than Y is this document help us
understand?
officially, except in a few cases. They are perhaps as much prejudiced as the others, but important? What makes this an
prejudice does not prevent all from being gentlemen. On the other hand, there are important text?
some from the very lowest classes of our population. They are uncouth and rough in 1. Why has Flipper avoided these questions about how he was treated up to now?
appearance, have only a rudimentary education, have little or no idea of courtesy, use
the very worst language, and in most cases are much inferior to the average negro.
What can be expected of such people? They are low, and their conduct must be in 2. What does Flipper mean by, “They are perhaps as much prejudiced as the others, but
keeping with their breeding. I am not at all surprised to find it so. Indeed, in ordinary prejudice does not prevent all from being gentlemen.”?
civil life I should consider such people beneath me in the social scale, should even
reckon some of them as roughs, and consequently give them a wide berth.
3. What does Flipper have to say about the “bullies” at West Point? Does his use of the
What surprises me most is the control this class seems to have over the other. term surprise you? Why or why not?
It is in this class I have observed most prejudice, and from it, or rather by it, the other
becomes tainted. It seems to rule the corps by fear. Indeed, I know there are many who 4. Analyze this quote: “There is, it seems at first sight, more prejudice at West Point than
would associate, who would treat me as a brother cadet, were they not held in constant elsewhere. It is not really so I think.” Does he mean that there isn’t prejudice at West
dread of this class. The bullies, the fighting men of the corps are in it. It rules by fear, Point at all? What else could he mean?
and whoever disobeys its beck is "cut." The rest of the corps follows like so many
menials subject to command. In short, there is a fearful lack of backbone. There is, it
seems at first sight, more prejudice at West Point than elsewhere. It is not really so I 5. What does this excerpt tell the reader about Flipper’s IDENTITY?
think.
6. Complete the hashtag based on what you’ve learned about Flipper through his
autobiography: #TexansAre____________________