AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE WEST

AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE WEST

BACKGROUND

From the beginning of American history , African Americans experienced the worst treatment ever while living in the SOUTH.

SLAVERY

SLAVERY

SLAVERY

SLAVERY

SLAVERY

JIM CROW & BLACK CODE LAWS

LYNCHING

WESTERN MIGRATION

As a result of constant mistreatment, Blacks decided to move west to avoid the racism of the south. This is called the First Great Migration

EXODUSTERS The African Americans who moved to the West from the South before the 1900’s were called EXODUSTERS. Exodus means to leave out in great numbers !

EXODUS OF 1879

BENJAMIN “PAP” SINGLETON • Led large masses of African Americans to new territory in the West. • He established communities for over 15, 000 Blacks.

KANSAS

BLACK COWBOYS

ONE out of every FOUR cowboys was BLACK. MOST of them lived very lonely lives and their lives went undocumented. Media and movies often tell the stories of the Old West and leave out the fact that Blacks, Native Americans, and Spanish men were integral parts of the settling of the Western.

NAT LOVE • The most popular cowboy of ALL . • Nicknamed “DEADWOOD DICK” after he won a contest in the town of Deadwood, South Dakota. • Exceptional in riding wild horses and shooting a pistol.

NAT LOVE

BILL PICKETT • Inventor of the rodeo sport KNOWN TODAY as steer wrestling . • Famous for the way in how he would subdue the steer by biting the upper lip (it’s most vulnerable part).

BILLPICKETT

ARE YOU THINKING WHAT I’M THINKING ???

HEALTH PROBLEMS • THE COWBOYS OF THE OLD WEST SUFFERED MANY PHYSICAL PROBLEMS FROM CONSTANT RIDING OF HORSES AND HANDLING OF WILD ANIMALS. • HIP AND SPINE RE-ALIGNMENT CAUSED THEM TO HAVE ISSUES WITH POSTURE.

RODEO TODAY

BUFFALO SOLDIERS

Ex- Civil War soldiers who were sent out West to do various jobs and be peace-makers between the US government and hostile Native Americans who were losing more of their land through expansion.

BUFFALO SOLDIERS Different theories exist over why they were named Buffalo Soldiers by the Native Americans: 1. They fought brave and courageous like buffalo. 2. Their short, curly hair resembled that of the buffalo.

BUFFALO SOLDIERS • The term was originally given to a selected group of soldiers, but later became the name to call ALL of the Black soldiers who fought. • Although their story was excluded from history books for years, some pay honor and respect to their legacy TODAY.

EVER HEAR THE SONG…..? Bob Marley – Famous reggae artist made a song in tribute to the Buffalo Soldier. Listen to the lyrics..

CONTROVERSY While some praise the Buffalo Soldiers for their military service, others believe that they were wrong in helping America further suppress another minority group (Native Americans); when they already knew first hand the affects of racism.