Black Historical Figures - Josephine Baker

Josephine Baker, born 1906, was an entertainer, activist, and French Resistance agent. Her career in entertainment was centered primarily in France. During her early career she was renowned as a dancer, perhaps the most famous of the entire Jazz Age, and became famous for her so-called banana suit. 

No, not that one.

This one.

During World War Dos, she was a member of the French resistance, and became a prominent figure in France's opposition to the Nazi menace. She wasn't a big fan of racism or segregation, and refused to perform for segregated audiences, which is kind of neat. She also liked cats, so I guess we have something in common.

Kitty

Although she lived in France, Josephine supported the Civil Rights Movement in the United States during the 1950s. When she arrived in New York with her husband, they were refused reservations at 36 hotels because of racial discrimination. She became a prominent figure of the movement, and was seen alongside Dr. King.

The moral of this story, I suppose, is that it doesn't matter who you are. It doesn't matter if you're poor or a celebrity, you're a human being. You have an opinion. I spent the longest time thinking celebrities weren't down to earth, but that isn't true. 

Chiquita, please don't sue me, it's a nice banana costume.  

Black Historical Figures - Henry Johnson, The Black Death

Let's talk World War One, folks.

Henry Johnson, born 1897, was born into poverty. While he worked in the New York City subway system, people over in Europe were blowing each-other up over stupid reasons because their friends were getting blown up, because THEIR friends were getting blown up, because some jerk decided to shoot the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. European politics isn't something I like to get into, but it seems like all of the world's problems revolve around it. 

You know what you did, Europe.

When the United States joined the fight, Henry joined the fight too, in an all-black brigade known as the 369th Infantry Regiment, later nicknamed "The Harlem Hellfighters". 

These Harlem Hellfighters were known as such due to never losing a man through capture or losing ground. The Germans were afraid to fight them, and that's not a joke I'm making. They were the ones who called them the Hellfighters. 

"Auch, Nein!"

On watch in the Argonne Forest on May 14, 1918, Johnson's claim to fame would come. He fought off a German raid in hand-to-hand combat with a bolo knife, which is basically a small machete. In the process, Henry managed to kill multiple German soldiers and rescuing a fellow soldier while experiencing 21 wounds, which must have been terrifying for the German soldiers. If you shoot something once, there's a good chance it'll die. 

"Zurückziehen!!!"

Johnson was the first American to ever receive the Croix de Guerre, the highest award for bravery offered by the French Government. Almost a century later, President Barack Obama (And sweet Jesus, that sounds great to say) posthumously awarded him with the Medal of Honor. He's buried at Arlington. If you see him there, pay some respect to the man who was willing to fight for a country that hasn't had the best racial relations.

Black Historical Figures - Yasuke, the Black Samurai

Samurai are cool. I'm pretty sure that's a scientific fact.

I shouldn't need to tell you that Samurai were Japanese warriors, who lived to serve their local lords. The most relevant time of the Samurai, and the time period that most people think about when they think of samurai is the Sengoku period. Japan was not a unified nation at that point, but was split into many different territories governed by these local lords, all fighting to be the Shogun, Japan's military leader. There was an emperor, but he really didn't have any power. He was allowed to have nice things, though.

Here's a statue of him. It's a nice thing.

 

Another important detail is that the island nation was basically sealed off from the world. Nobody was allowed in or out. The only ones who were allowed to trade with Japan were the Portuguese. The final important detail of this story is that the Portuguese had slaves, and owned parts of Africa. This is where our story begins. 

 

Yasuke, who was likely from Mozambique, was in the service of some Italian Jesuits, and they did what Jesuits do, going places and talkin' about Jebus. Eventually, through the Portuguese, made his way to Japan. He was very popular, as he was the first black man to set foot on the island. Also, he was 6'2". People all around wanted to see him, and some were trampled to death. Good times. 

 

Oda Nobunaga, a warlord, was in town, and he heard the commotion from where he was. He went over to see what the commotion was about. Upon seeing Yasuke, he ordered him to scrub the ink off his face.

I repeat, nobody on the island had ever seen a black man. Not even him.

 

For some reason, Nobunaga really liked the fact that he was 6'2" and black. He was ordered to stay with the warlord, and he received samurai training. Neat. He even received a ceremonial katana. Double neat. He was given the task of bearing Oda's weapons, and the two became friends, I guess.

This wouldn't really last, however. Nobunaga's castle was attacked in 1582, Nobunaga was forced to commit seppuku, after losing to the army of Akechi Mitsuhide. Yasuke was there at the time and fought the Akechi forces alongside his fellow samurai. Immediately after Nobunaga's death, Yasuke went to join Nobunaga's heir, Nobutada. However, the fight didn't last long, and Yasuke was forced to surrender. Akechi said "The black man is a beast and does not know anything, and he's not even Japanese!"

What an asshole.

 

They did, however, take pity on him, and sent him back to the Jesuit temple.

 

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the story of Yasuke, the Black Samurai. His ultimate fate is unknown, since nothing else was written about him after he went back to the temple. The Jesuits said that God was watching over him, as his life was spared. Maybe he was. Arguably, he was the first non-Japanese samurai. That, ladies and germs, is badass.  

Black Historical Figures - Bass Reeves

Bass Reeves was born in 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas. Needless to say, it wasn't a great place to be if you were black. You were less than human. You were property; a slave.

It wasn't until the Civil War when Bass was able to escape from his master. If I had to guess, I'd say he really didn't like being known as someone's property.

He fled deep into Indian Territory, where he was able to hone his firearm skills. When the 13th Amendment was passed, Bass would walk back into the states a free man, and would use his freedom for good.

Having learned several Indian languages (Not to mention, being skilled in combat) Bass Reeves was recruited as a deputy U.S. Marshall. This is where the good part of the story begins. He basically became an African-American version of The Lone Ranger.

Yes, like Django. You must feel really smart for making that connection.

Bass worked for almost three decades as a federal peace officer in the Indian Territories, and became one of the force's most valued deputies. Reeves brought in some of the most dangerous criminals of the time, and due to his detective skills, arrested over 3,000 men, but was never wounded, despite having his hat and belt shot off on separate occasions.

Now, I can't think of a police officer today who could even serve that long, let alone arrest thousands of people. If I had my belt shot off, I think I'd call it quits. Then again, I'm more of a mouse than a man.

On top of all of that, Bass had to arrest his son for murder once. Though shaken by the fact, he would be the one to track down his own son and bring him to justice.

Reeves retired in 1909 due to failing health. He would die a year later, aged 71. He had 14 kills and over 3,000 arrests to his name, and yet, he's an unsung hero of the wild west. Hopefully, that miniseries starring Morgan Freeman can get off the ground already.