In honor of Black History Month, Bike Fort Collins has highlighted a different story each week during the month of February celebrating black history in cycling via social media. Here is a brief recap for those who may have missed it:
25th Infantry United States Bicycle Corps. – Bob Marley’s iconic song, Buffalo Soldier, was a song about the 25th Infantry United States Bicycle Corps. A black segregated infantry, they were tasked with exploring the possibility of replacing horses with bicycles in the military. (Moore, Renee. “Little Known Black History of Blacks in Biking”, WABA.org. February 26,2018 @wabadc
5 Black Women on a Bike Ride – In 1928, five black women rode their bikes from New York City to Washington, DC covering 250 miles in just three days. Read more on this groundbreaking journey by Marya McQuirter posted in 2013 on the League of American Bicyclists news blog.
Kittie Knox – Not only was Kittie Knox instrumental in the desegregation of the League of American Wheelmen (now League of American Bicyclists) but she was also influential in popular cycling attire of the day with her own, self designed and created cycling “costumes”. Read more about her trailblazing story in the Smithsonian Libraries & Archives .
Nelson Vails – Nelson Vails became the first African-American to win a medal in cycling at the 1984 Olympic Games. From humble beginnings as a bike messenger in New York City to the Olympic training center in Colorado, Vails is an inspiration and legend in the cycling world. Read the original story at USA Cycling.
Where’s mention of Marshall “Major” Taylor? Shame on you!
With so many influential and inspirational people of color in the cycling world, let’s learn new stories!