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The Kingdom of Great Britain attempted to make the colonists within the then, thirteen colonies of America, follow more rules as well as pay higher taxes to receive services and governance. The thirteen colonies consisted of the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The colonists were not happy at that proposal, so they began to strategize, so that they could make their own rules. The colonists revolted, thus the start of the American Revolution.
The successful American Revolution served as the legal separation of American colonies from Great Britain. Americans decided to govern themselves. On July 2, 1776, the 2nd Continental Congress voted to approve a declaration of the 13 United States of America as was proposed previously in June of the same year. Congress debated and revised the resolution, and ultimately approved the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. However, delegates in Congress did not sign the declaration until August 2, 1776, which made the declaration official.
African American participants in the Civil War, particularly “black” commissioned officers, are certainly revered as the early pioneers of the “civil rights movement.” The Civil War was indeed, a movement for civil, economic, social and political rights. The African American’s participation in the Civil War and in the making of America has been scarcely chronicled in history. The same would also prove itself true with the African American contribution to America’s political landscape.
One of the best known amongst the “black” commissioned officers during the Civil War, and Louisiana’s own native son, Pinckney Benton Stewart “P. B. S.” Pinchback, made a reputation not only through his military service, but through his political involvement. He pressed for “political rights for the free community” and declared that soldiers who fought in the Civil War and who are citizens should have the right to vote.
Americans and America have proven a susceptibility to soften its history. They continue to offer a watered down version, offering only the aspects of history they want Americans and the world to accept as true. The reported facts of the making of America have been cherry-picked and in some instances excluded from the chronicles of history. The same would prove itself true with the African American contribution to the Civil War.
African Americans fought in most, if not all wars on American soil. The African American contribution to the Civil War seems to have been forgotten. More specifically, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Louisiana Native Guard Volunteers – all black regiments – were commissioned in October 1862 to fight in the Civil War, although under white commanding officers. These regiments represent the pioneering stages of the history of “black” troops at war.
The recruitment of “black” enlisted men was ordered by General Patrick Cleburne as an experiment. Men of varied backgrounds – free or ex-slave, light skinned or dark, educated or illiterate – joined these army regiments, often referred to as “free” black units. These regiments included a majority of former slaves. It was the original enlistment of the 1st Regiment that prompted the word “free”, for it contained a core group of free people of color, many of whom were light skinned, well educated and prominent citizens in their respective communities.
By the second half of the 17th Century in America, larger towns in the East were building racing tracks. Nearly, one hundred years later in towns further west, horse races were still occurring in the streets in the middle of town. In the early 1800’s, formal racetracks were built in and around Louisville, Kentucky – the Hope Distillery Course, Oakland Race Course, Woodlawn Course and Beargrass Track. In the mid-1800’s while horseracing was flourishing at Saratoga, New York, the courses in and around Louisville was floundering.
In 1872, M. Lewis Clark, a young Louisvillian, left for Europe to get ideas to further develop racing in his hometown. After visiting both the French and English Jockey Clubs, he returned. Having been impressed with the Epsom Derby held on the outskirts of London, Clark realized that there was no event like it in America.
Clark then leased land from his uncles – John and Henry Churchill. He developed a racetrack to showcase the Kentucky horse breeding industry, and to attract the best horses from around the country.
The inaugural “meeting” at what would ultimately become known as Churchill Downs, was held on May 17, 1875.
It was not uncommon for Africans and African Americans to go “above and beyond” what they were called to do to survive in America. It was also commonplace for people of color to be servant workers, or simply subservient. It is widely known that people of color had to be several times better than their white counterpart in order to be acceptable, as well as to compete in their daily lives just for the purpose of survival. Would it not be conceivable that the same would apply to the game and institution of golf?
At the advent of the 20th century, America was familiar with the numerous problems that existed within the African American community – high unemployment, poverty, substandard housing and a host of other social ills. Still, a small number of African Americans were able to muster-up the money and time to devote to playing golf. The complex task at hand, was finding a place to tee-up, for people of color were not readily accepted for play at then segregated golf courses and clubs.
The institution and game of golf has grown significantly from St. Andrews to Pebble Beach. The game has evolved from the obscure names of Jamie and Willie Anderson, Tom Morris, Jr. and Sr., Tommy Armour, John Ball, Walter Hagen, Willie Park, Jr. and Sr., Jim Barnes, Tommy Bolt, Robert Ferguson, Allan Robertson, Gene Sarazen, Cyril Tolley and Bobby Jones, to more modern day names such as Arnold Palmer, Seviano Ballestero, Greg Norman, Fuzzy Zoeller, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Curtis Strange, Jack Nicklaus, Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia, and to the greatest golfer to ever play the game, Eldrick “Tiger” Woods.
However, the road travelled from then to now has not been “a walk in the park” for African Americans. Nonetheless, the African American community has made significant contributions to the evolution of the sport. African Americans served as high-profile caddies, groundskeepers, instructors of the game, inventors of golf equipment, professional golfers, club professionals, as well as designers and architects of golf courses around the world.
