Paige Robinson, Staff Photographer
What pops into your mind when you think about the Lone Ranger? Most likely a white cowboy on a horse in the Wild West. That would make sense because of how the media portrays the Lone Ranger. Movies have shown the majority of cowboys as white males. However, the famous Lone Ranger was actually inspired by a Black man. In fact, most cowboys in history were Black men.
This piece of history is unknown to many because the cowboy era took place post-slavery, and the white crowd was not in favor of seeing a Black man as the face of cowboys. This is one of many instances of white people taking away Black credit and culture. Today I’m going to tell you the true story of the Black man who inspired the Lone Ranger, Bass Reeves.
Bass Reeves was born into slavery to a man named William Reeves in Arkansas. At the onset of the Civil War, Reeves was sent to fight for the Confederacy. During the war, he was able to escape into Indian territory, which is now modern-day Oklahoma. The Indian tribes (Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole) were moved out by colonizers by the Indian Removal Act, so there was prominent exclusivity on who could join their territory. Bass Reeves was one of the special few accepted by the Indian tribes, and was brought into their culture. With the Indian tribes, he was able to learn how to use weapons and how to defend himself. He also studied their languages and culture. Bass stayed with the tribes until slavery was abolished. Then, he moved back to Arkansas and started a family.
After 10 years in Arkansas, Reeves returned to the Indian territories. He was hired by Marshal James Fagan to help reduce the high crime that was present. He used the skills he learned from the Civil War and from the Indian tribes to master the skill of catching criminals. This work earned him the job of a deputy, making him the first Black deputy in Mississippi. In total, he caught over 3,000 criminals, and killed 14 who posed a more serious threat. He became famous in the Wild West, and many criminals feared him.
One of Reeves’ most popular stories was when he was told about a very dangerous criminal on the loose. Reeves had a feeling of where the criminal would be, so he traveled 30 miles on foot and hid. His gut did him justice, for when the criminal walked by where Reeves was hiding, he approached him and arrested him.
Reeves was an icon in the Wild West. He made a huge impact by reducing crime and helping the community. However, with all of the things he did, Reeves never got the credit he truly deserved. The media gave him the nickname “Lone Ranger,” without revealing who he truly was. The press and audience were very excited to hear about him. When the chance came to reveal Reeves’ true identity, it angered many when they realized he was Black, so they decided to make the Lone Ranger white. Society at the time was not ready to accept the fact that a Black man could do what he did. If there were movies made about the real Lone Ranger, people would not watch it. If there were newspapers about the real Lone Ranger, people would not read it. Bass Reeves' story is yet another example of a Black person who gets their credit taken away from white America.
Although Reeves never got credit for who he truly was, he still fought to do the right thing. He was never discouraged, and wanted to make a difference no matter who would know about it. To this day, American culture knows of the tales of the Lone Ranger, all thanks to Bass Reeves.