BASS REEVES.. Think DENZEL WASHINGTON in THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN! Hold that image.
Was BASS REEVES the inspiration for the dictional LONE RANGER? I used to be glued to my TV on any given afternoon after school watching episodes of the "Adventures of the Lone Ranger.' The masked man atop his steed, Silver who'd he urge to "Hi Ho, Silver! Away! And let's not forget his "faithful Indian" sidekick, Tonto. Hey, I loved the show. What did I know? It was entertainment. Clean and wholesome. But that's how deceptions work. They are attractive and showy and go down smooth like the sweetest medicine. All the while, the truth the deception is based on is never revealed
But folks somewhere, somehow, always have the receipts!
Enter Bass Reeves. Born into slavery in Crawford County, Arkansas, legend said he beat up the son of the man who owned him after a round of cards. That's bold and brave and very badass. he escaped into Indian Territory where he stayed several years learning many nations languages. Father of 11 children with his 1st wife, killer of 14 assailants in self-defense and a record 3,000 arrests under his belt, the man was bigger than life. So, why wouldn't he have been the model for the LONE RANGER? It's a disgrace the TV character could not have been Black. But then again, White audiences would have smashed their TV sets or had the vapors. A little like many did when Barack Hussein Obama was elected President. Twice.
But I digress.
Yeehaw, Mofos!
Anyhoo, read more about Bass Reeves courtesy of Black America Web at the link below
https://blackamericaweb.com/2018/08/03/little-known-black-history-fact-bass-reeves-2/
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