What bothers me is that people are continuously surprised by things like this. If this shocks you, if you feel amazed, then you have been a victim of the erasure of the true legacy of POC. The real truth is, that in the history of this country and species humans of all skin tones were absolutely indispensable, and that the horrifying trials of the slave trade produced some of the strongest human beings this planet has ever known. That people are surprised to learn that there were men and women of tremendous fortitude, quality and skill, is very sad to me. But…I am glad that many have refused to let these facts about the past die.
My concern is that by being placed in this constant narrative of “Look at this striking story that isn’t ever taught as the critical, integrated piece of information that it is” will mean that the erasure of Black, First Nations, and Latinx culture will continue to happen. Especially in this current political climate. That children know of Wyatt Earp, and not Bass Reeves is a travesty, and it won’t change as long as white culture continues to discount black stories as being unnecessary to tell, as being ADDENDUMS to white stories.
Why aren’t children taught of Robert Smalls? The slave who commandeered a confederate ship, sailed it with a crew of slaves through hostile waters to join the union fleet, and then became a South Carolina State Legislator, founded the Republican party in that state (a division which I am certain not only wishes to erase this legacy but also spend a great deal of time working to actively forget it) penned legislation to begin public education in that state, and eventually bought the plantation house in which he was born and raised.
Do your research. Stop being surprised by the exceptional people who have come before. Expect that every POC around you is an incredible and unique person, and that most of them face a daily and constant dismissal of them, imagine what that must feel like. Learn your history, and make certain these stories are not only preserved, but taught alongside all the other stories.
If you ask me, and you might, Reeves and Smalls did far more in their lifetimes of importance and merit than their more illustrious white counterparts. And yet, few people seem to remember they existed.
That is a tremendous disservice to their legacy.
Since the history books fail to teach Bass Reeves, it falls upon Drunk History. This is a pretty good summary of the amazing work and unrecognized legacy of the real Lone Ranger.
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