The first professional athletes in American history.
At the first Kentucky Derby, in 1875, 13 of the 15 jockeys were African-Americans. Blacks would ride 15 of the first 28 Derby winners, including Mr. Winkfield's victories in 1901 and 1902.
But a number of changes in the sport's climate, coming in the days of segregation and Jim Crow laws, spelled an exodus of African- American jockeys from the racing scene. The last time an African-American won a major stakes race was 1908, when Jimmie Lee took the Travers at Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Jimmy Winkfield rides
Alan-A-Dale in 1902.
(Courtesy of Churchill Downs)
William “Bill” Pickett
From 1905 to 1931, the Miller brothers' 101 Ranch Wild West Show was one of the great shows in the tradition begun by William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody in 1883. The 101 Ranch Show introduced bulldogging (steer wrestling), an exciting rodeo event invented by Bill Pickett, one of the show's stars.
Riding his horse, Spradley, Pickett came alongside a Longhorn steer, dropped to the steer's head, twisted its head toward the sky, and bit its upper lip to get full control.
In 1989, years after being honored by the National Rodeo Hall of Fame, Pickett was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy at Colorado Springs, Colorado. A 1994 U.S. postage stamp meant to honor Pickett accidentally showed one of his brothers.
Jesse Stahl
In the early 1900's, Stahl competed in an Oregon rodeo and made an extraordinary ride. However, the judges awarded him second place for a ride that deserved a first place finish. It was clear that skin color had been factored into the final tally. To protest the judges' decision, Jesse rode his next bronco facing backwards with a suitcase in his hand.
Mary Fields
In 1895, she landed a job carrying the United States Mail. Also known as Stagecoach Mary she quickly developed a reputation for delivering letters and parcels no matter what the weather, nor how rugged the terrain. She and her mule, Moses, plunged through anything, from bitterly raw blizzards to wilting heat, reaching remote cabins and other outposts.
Nat Love
Nate Love, also known as Deadwood Dick
In the spring of 1876, Nate Love's outfit received orders to deliver three thousand steer to Deadwood City in the Dakota Territory. They arrived July 3rd. The town was getting ready for the 4th of July. The mining men and gamblers had gotten together and organized a contest with $200 prize money. Nate said that six of the dozen men in the contest were Black. Each black cowboy was to rope, throw, tie bridles, and saddle a mustang in the shortest possible time. The wildest horses were chosen for this event. Nate roped, threw, tied bridles, saddled, and mounted his mustang in exactly nine minutes. The next competitor took twelve minutes and thirty seconds. In the rifle and Colt events, shooting at 100 and 250 yards with 14 shots, Nate placed all of his shots in the bulls eye and 10 of the 12 pistol shots inthe bulls eye.
In late 1965, Dell Comics debuted a truly unique western comic book. The title? Lobo. The character? An African-American cowboy!
The character thereby became the first African-American comic book character to ever star in his or her own comic book. The title only lasted for two issues, but after its second issue, there wasn't another black headliner until Luke Cage, Hero For Hire, which was a good six years later!
Bass Reeves
Born to slave parents in 1838 in Paris, Texas, Bass Reeves would become the first black U.S. Deputy Marshal West of the Mississippi River and one of the greatest frontier heroes in our nation’s history.
Over the 35 years that Bass Reeves served as a Deputy United States Marshal, Reeves earned his place in history by being one of the most effective lawmen in Indian Territory, bringing in more than 3,000 outlaws and helping to tame the lawless territory. Killing some 14 men during his service, Reeves always said that he "never shot a man when it was not necessary for him to do so in the discharge of his duty to save his own life."
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull, Lakota Medicine Man and Chief was considered the last Sioux to surrender to the U.S. Government.
After participating in the Sun Dance Ceremony, Sitting Bull had a vision in which he saw his people victorious over the white soldiers who had been sent to protect the gold prospectors. Just weeks later, General George Armstrong Custer and a regiment of the seventh cavalry attacked the seven bands of the Lakota Nation along with several families of the Cheyenne and Arapaho. The attack was clearly in violation of their treaty. Precisely as Sitting Bull had seen in his vision, every white soldier was killed that day at Big Horn along with a few Native Americans. Following the success of the battle, Sitting Bull and his followers headed for Canada.
Chief Rolling Thunder in the Mountain
With 2,000 U.S. soldiers in pursuit, Chief Rolling Thunder in the Mountain and other Nez Perce chiefs led 800 Nez Perce toward freedom at the Canadian border. For over three months, the Nez Perce outmaneuvered and battled their pursuers traveling 1,600 miles (2,570 km) across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana.
Chief Rolling Thunder in the Mountain was regarded with high esteem by his enemies as well as his friends. He was about 6’2” tall, strong, with piercing black eyes; he was an excellent orator
Quotes from the Chief:
I am tired of talk that comes to nothing.
It does not require many words to speak the truth.
All men were made brothers. The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it. You might as well expect the rivers to run backward as that any man who was born free should be contented when penned up and denied liberty to go where he pleases.
We may quarrel with men about things on earth, but we never quarrel about the Great Spirit.
HISTORICAL REENACTMENTS OF BUFFALO SOLIDERS
Devoted to religious, educational and social causes, the AME Zion Church and its members have been instrumental in many of the freedom struggles of this nation, dating back to the days when former slaves Frederick Douglas, Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman led the first wave of Black Social Activism.
Frederick Douglas would continue his active involvement to better the lives of African Americans. He conferred with Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and recruited Northern Blacks for the Union Army whom where later known as the Buffalo Soldiers.
Black Jockeys
