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.