Monday, September 13, 2004
Major Taylor
Major Taylor. The Lance Armstrong of the 1890s 
At the turn of the previous Marshall W. "Major" Taylor, dispite racial discrimination, threat physical assault, had become a world champion cyclist competing in the United States and Europe. Not only was he a champion on the track but he was a believer also. "After his mother's death in 1898 and was a steadfast member of the John Street Baptist Church in Worcester. For years, he resisted invitations to race in Europe because he refused to race on Sundays. He finally signed a European contract in 1901, was welcomed as a hero in France, and proceeded to beat every European champion."(Major Taylor Association)
I would love to read a biography about this man. It gives me hope that I could start long distance bicycle touring. So often the media portray blacks with negative view points. Much of the racism today is not blatant as 100 years ago, but there is still racism. It's hidden and very subtle nowadays.
Anyway, Major Taylor's accomplishments include
For more info. check out www.majortaylorassociation.org
A great article by the late great Ken Kifer:
www.majortaylorassociation.org/kifer.htm
A good article that compares Lance Armstrong to "Major" Taylor.
www.majortaylorassociation.org/common.htm
At the turn of the previous Marshall W. "Major" Taylor, dispite racial discrimination, threat physical assault, had become a world champion cyclist competing in the United States and Europe. Not only was he a champion on the track but he was a believer also. "After his mother's death in 1898 and was a steadfast member of the John Street Baptist Church in Worcester. For years, he resisted invitations to race in Europe because he refused to race on Sundays. He finally signed a European contract in 1901, was welcomed as a hero in France, and proceeded to beat every European champion."(Major Taylor Association)
I would love to read a biography about this man. It gives me hope that I could start long distance bicycle touring. So often the media portray blacks with negative view points. Much of the racism today is not blatant as 100 years ago, but there is still racism. It's hidden and very subtle nowadays.
Anyway, Major Taylor's accomplishments include
- 2 unofficial world track records, for paced and unpaced 1-mile rides, in Indianapolis.
- Taylor holds seven world records, including the 1-mile paced standing start (1:41.4).
- Second black world champion athlete, after bantamweight boxer George Dixon's title fights in 1890-91.
- 1900 Talyor becomes American sprint champion
- Raced all over Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
For more info. check out www.majortaylorassociation.org
A great article by the late great Ken Kifer:
www.majortaylorassociation.org/kifer.htm
A good article that compares Lance Armstrong to "Major" Taylor.
www.majortaylorassociation.org/common.htm
# posted by funbun @ 1:09 PM 
