At the Roadside in Kigali by Naa Oyo A. Kwate
In celebration of Black History month in 2022, the story of a pioneering cyclist emerged. In the summer of 1892, a significant event took place in Peoria, Illinois, where an under!-sixteen track cycling race was held.
A cyclist named Taylor from Indianapolis participated in the race and came third. However, his participation was met with hostility from his competitors, solely due to his race, as he later wrote in his autobiography:
due wholly to the fact that I was coloured.
- Taylor faced racial hostility and sometimes had to arrive at tracks in secret to avoid it.
- Organisers eventually prohibited him from racing in his hometown.
- Despite the challenges, Taylor persisted and continued to compete elsewhere.
At the age of sixteen, Taylor achieved a remarkable feat in Matthews, Indiana, where he was the only cyclist to cross the finish line at the end of a 75-mile road race, despite giving his counterparts a head start of several miles.
As Taylor overtook the peloton, he was subjected to a barrage of
vile namesand even threats of
bodily harmfrom other racers.
Author's summary: The story of Taylor, a pioneering cyclist who faced racial hostility.