Lawman Bass Reeves, US Deputy Marshall | Food for Thought

Posted on April 24, 2011 by Rio

U.S. Deputy Marshall Bass Reeves

“The First African American US Deputy Marshall West of the Mississippi River”

I was browsing at Borders Books and Music, and I found this book about a famous lawman named Bass Reeves who was a black man; and who was so efficient that survived 14 gunfights without a scratch. He brought in more than 3,000 felons in 32 years of service under Judge Parker (the hanging judge). 

How many movies has Hollywood made about Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday? We have been given a very distorted view of history, haven’t we? Food for thought.

I found a movie about Reeves that was released on 2010, and I missed it because I didn’t even hear about it.  Although I have to admit I don’t go to the movies that often. I guess I’ll get it on itunes later. 

“He was the most famous lawman the west ever had.  During his thirty-two years of service he fought in fourteen shoot-outs and was never wounded once.  He brought in over three thousands outlaws, was an expert tracker and marksman and often wore disguises to enter outlaw sanctums.  Yet to this day, his name is only known to a handful of historians.  Why is this so?  Because Bass Reeves was a black man.”

More info at: The Black Art Depot Today  or just google his name.

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2 Responses

  1. rioguzman, on April 27, 2011 at 2:27 pm said:

    Thanks for your input Heather!

    Like

  2. Heather, on April 27, 2011 at 2:15 am said:

    so true! It reminds me about a quote from the movie Braveheart: “History is written by people who hanged heroes”. Of course there is the Howard Zinn book, The People’s History of the U.S. where he tries to tell more stories about the forgotten people in history.

    Thanks for sharing!

    Like

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