Marshall Major Taylor

Decades before Jackie Robinson broke through the racial divide to play major league baseball, Marshall Major Taylor paved the way for African Americans in a different sport--track cycling. At the turn of the twentieth century, Taylor was the fastest bicycle racer in the whole world, winning races around the globe. Race organizers let him compete as he was an exciting athlete and drew the crowds. But as an African American, Taylor faced prejudice on and off the track that ranged from...
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Decades before Jackie Robinson broke through the racial divide to play major league baseball, Marshall Major Taylor paved the way for African Americans in a different sport--track cycling. At the turn of the twentieth century, Taylor was the fastest bicycle racer in the whole world, winning races around the globe. Race organizers let him compete as he was an exciting athlete and drew the crowds. But as an African American, Taylor faced prejudice on and off the track that ranged from being excluded from hotels and restaurants to being doused with ice water to keep him from crossing the finish line. Yet Taylor persevered, winning three consecutive world championship titles. and at the time, his prize money and endorsement earnings made him one of the wealthiest African Americans in the United States.