Bass Reeves was the first Black Deputy U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi. Born to enslaved parents in Crawford County, Arkansas in 1838, Reeves was taken by plantation owner George Reeves to fight in the Civil War (1861-1865) on the Confederate side. During the conflict, Reeves secured his freedom. After the war, Reeves farmed near Van Buren. In 1875, Judge Issac Parker recruited Reeves as a deputy because of his fluency in several Native American languages, knowledge of the Indian Territory and skill as a marksmen. Reeves was assigned as deputy U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Arkansas. He was primarily responsible for the Indian Territory. He is credited with thousands of arrests, many of dangerous felons and outlaws. Reeves subsequently served as a marshal in the Eastern District of Texas in Paris, Texas and concluded his career in Oklahoma serving with the Muskogee Federal Court in the Native Territory. He died in 1910.
Reeves has recently become the subject of several books, movies and television series. His story has been cited as the inspiration for the Lone Ranger. Reeves developed a plethora of detective skills in his 32 year career including the use of masks and disguises to outwit his opponents.
NOTE--This informational blog is compiled by (with the exception of the introduction and photograph) and reprinted with permission from Abdul Akalimat, PhD
wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_Reeves
Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hqgBAlwlqE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3XFsQEoJZI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8BC2gvhdG8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lN-fRmjg6g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YByfhYo_7as
Art "Turk" Burton
His work on Bass Reeves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycNIeCrfK7o https://www.artburton.com/
Turk as musician https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwzA7QH-dw0 https://www.artturkburton.com/bio https://www.facebook.com/turkscongosquare/photos https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsQCz8qy8v38KN27Q4vsNWg
Turk as Black Studies director-scholar https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/items/15204
Abdulslist Archive https://www.alkalimat.org/abdu