“Buffalo Soldiers in the Philippine American War:
A Crisis of Conscience” 

A multi -disciplinary work by John Calloway
Presented by the Oakland Museum of California
Co-presenters: Kularts and SOMA Pilipinas

Pre Echos– Aimee Suzara, composer
Native Filipino and African American preludes 
Reading:The Buffalo Soldier 
Soldier’s Way – John Calloway, composer  

Reading: Excerpt from “'Smoked Yankees' and the Struggle for Empire: 
Letters from Negro Soldiers 1898–1902” by Willard B. Gatewood, Jr.
Boat Ride to Manila – John Calloway, composer

Mananakmal (Devourer) – Conrad Benedicto, composer 
Sinulog a Kangungudan – Danongan Kalanduyan, composer 

La Colonial (Quiapo) – John Calloway, composer 
Dedicated to Magdalena de la Rosa Calloway, Afro-Filipina actress, singer and dancer 

Reading: John W. Calloway’s interview with Filipino natives for the Richmond Planer, 1899 
Kapatid (Sibling) – Mario Nomi, composer
Itim (Black) – John Calloway, composer 
Dedicated to Paul de la Rosa Calloway 

Reading: Excerpt from “Imperialist Paranoia & Military Injustice: 
The Persecution and Redemption of Sergeant Calloway” by Gil Boehringer
Left My Shackles at the San Isidro Crossroad –​​​​​​​ Tongo Eisen-Martin, composer 
Crisis of Conscience – John Calloway, composer 

Reading: John W. Calloway’s letter to Tomas Consunji 
A Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke, composer 

Echoes of the Past/Into the Future – Aimee Suzara, composer 
Diaspora – John Calloway, composer 

PERFORMERS
Ting Josue Alvarez-Maquinta – reader, vocals, dancer
Ron Blecher – bass
Conrad Benedicto – kulintang instruments 
Sam Brown – violin 
Deszon Claiborne – drums 
Herna Cruz-Louie – bandurria
Manuel Dragon – kulintang instruments 
Daniel Giray – dancer 
Umali Horne – reader, vocalist 
Erick Peralta – piano 
Mario Nomi – spoken word
Marcela Pabros-Clark – dancer 
Rebecca Rodriguez – percussion 
Aimee Suzara – spoken word 
Lina Torio – vocals, kulintang instruments
Chris Trinidad – bass, , kulintang instruments
John Calloway – flutes, kulintang instruments

“Buffalo Soldiers in the Philippine American War: A Crisis of Conscience” is an artistic representation and reflection of the struggles and aspirations of African American soldiers and Filipinos during the Philippine–American War.  Their conflicts, hopes and sense of solidarity as marginalized entities in dealing with U.S. imperialistic aggressions will be highlighted today. While some of the artistic work here centers on the personal writings of my grandfather John W. Calloway, particularly from Gil Boehringer's "Imperialist Paranoia and Military Injustice: The Persecution and Redemption of Sergeant Calloway," there were other invaluable literary sources, about the larger African American and Filipino narratives, including Michael Morey's book "Fagen," about David Fagen, the most known American to have defected to the Filipino National Army. 

Finally, the artistic work here is not solely mine, but with poignant spoken word compositions and contributions from Filipino American and African American artists. Indeed, all the artists performing today are culturally connected to this project by race/ethnicity/familial ties or osmosis. 
–John Calloway, Ed.D

Thanks to the Oakland Museum of California, Kularts, SOMA Pilipinas, the Asian Art Museum, the California Jazz Conservatory, KCSM, KPFA and KPOO radio stations, and the Museum of the African Diaspora.

Individual thanks to Gil Boehringer, Becca Calloway-Mosley, Chris Cortez, Angie Doctor, Mary D’Orazi, Jeremy Goody, Cristina Ibarra, Luis Medina, Michael Morey, Indra Mungal, Alleluia Panis, Marcela Pabros-Clark, Arturo Riera and Jesse “Chuy” Varela.