ABOUT
About Ronnie A. Nichols
For more than four decades, Ronnie A. Nichols has devoted his life to uncovering, preserving, and sharing the stories that too often go untold.
A distinguished historian, author, artist, and cultural preservationist, Nichols has dedicated his career to bringing greater understanding and visibility to the experiences and contributions of African American soldiers during the Civil War. His work is rooted not only in scholarship, but also in a deeply personal connection to the past. As a relative of a Black Civil War veteran, Nichols understands that history is more than dates, documents, and battlefields—it is the story of real people whose courage, sacrifice, and determination helped shape the nation.
Throughout his career, Nichols has worked at the intersection of history and public memory, helping audiences connect with the people behind the historical record. Through research, writing, art, exhibitions, lectures, and preservation initiatives, he has helped recover stories of African Americans who served their country and fought for a freedom that would forever change the meaning of citizenship in America.
His book, Freedom! Lest We Forget, reflects his commitment to ensuring that these stories are not lost to time. Nichols also brought his expertise to the broader public as a consultant on Glory, the Academy Award–winning film that helped introduce millions of people to the story of African American soldiers who fought during the Civil War.
