Banned at Home, He Became World Champion

Fact check

The facts and where they come from

1. As a teenager he broke cycling records, and tracks in his hometown banned him for being Black. Wikipedia: “In 1893, for example, after the 15-year-old Taylor beat a one-mile amateur track record, he was ‘hooted’ and then barred from the track”; “some local track owners feared that other cyclists would refuse to compete if Taylor was present … and banned him from their tracks.” The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, on his records at the Capital City track in August 1896: “Indianapolis tracks were subsequently restricted to white individuals only.” The New England Historical Society: “Local track officials, infuriated, barred Taylor from ever racing at that track again.” 134
2. His name was Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor, and he was born and raised in Indianapolis (Wikipedia). The nickname likely came from the military-style uniform he wore for bicycle stunts; the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis: “The military-style uniform provided for the position gained him the nickname ‘Major.’” 13
3. He moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, and turned pro. Wikipedia: “In 1895, Taylor and Munger relocated from Indianapolis to Worcester … a more tolerant area of the country”; “Taylor turned professional in 1896, at the age of 18.” The New England Historical Society: “Taylor decided to escape the bigotry of Indiana by moving to Worcester, Mass.” 14
4. America’s cycling league, the League of American Wheelmen, barred Black members. Wikipedia: “In 1894, the League of American Wheelmen changed its bylaws to exclude blacks from membership; however, it did permit them to compete in its races.” Zwift: by 1894 the League had changed its bylaws to say, “None but white persons can become members of the League.” 16
5. Rivals boxed him in, and someone threw ice water in his face. Wikipedia: he “had been elbowed and ‘pocketed’ (boxed in) by other riders”; at the 1896 Irvington–Millburn race, “someone startled Taylor by tossing ice water into his face”; “Taylor recalled that ice water had been thrown at him during races.” NEH: “Antagonists often tried to force him into a ‘pocket.’” 12
6. In 1897 a rival choked him unconscious after a race. Wikipedia: “One incident occurred on September 23, 1897, after the one-mile Massachusetts Open race at Taunton. … William Becker … tackled Taylor on the race track and choked him into unconsciousness.” NEH: “In 1897, W. E. Becker retaliated after Taylor nipped him for second place in Taunton, Massachusetts. …” Taylor: “It was fifteen minutes before I regained consciousness.” The Major Taylor Association: “One time in Taunton, a competitor pulled Taylor from his bike and choked him into unconsciousness.” 125
7. His attacker got a $50 fine. Wikipedia: “Becker received a $50 fine as punishment for his actions but was reinstated and allowed to continue racing.” The Major Taylor Association: “The offender was slapped on the wrist with a $50 fine.” The New England Historical Society: “The culprit was fined $50.” 154
8. He kept winning, setting seven world records. Wikipedia: “During 1898–99, at the peak of his cycling career, Taylor established seven world records.” The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis: “Major Taylor established world bicycle racing records for seven different distances.” The New England Historical Society: “He held seven world records.” 134
9. In 1899 he won the world sprint title in Montreal. Wikipedia: “At the 1899 world championships in Montreal, Canada, Major Taylor won the one-mile sprint.” NEH puts the one-mile final on Tuesday, August 8, before 18,000 spectators. 12
10. He was the first Black American world champion in any sport. Wikipedia: he was “the first Black American to achieve the level of world champion and the second Black athlete to win a world championship in any sport (following Canadian boxer George Dixon, 1890).” The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis: “He became the first African American to become a world champion in cycling or any other sport.” NEH: he “became the first African American to capture a world championship.” 132
11. Crowds mobbed him across Europe and Australia. Wikipedia: “Taylor was popular among the European race fans … ‘Everywhere he went he was mobbed, talked about, or written up’”; he raced in Europe from 1901 and in Australia in 1903 and 1904. The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis: “Racing before admiring throngs throughout Europe and Australia between 1902 and 1909.” 13
12. Racism wore him down, and he retired at 32. Wikipedia: “Taylor cited exhaustion as well as the physical and mental strain caused by the racial prejudice he experienced on and off the track as his reasons for retiring from competitive cycling in 1910”; “He retired from racing in 1910 at the age of 32.” NEH: “In 1910, Taylor retired at age thirty-two.” 12
13. He died broke in a Chicago charity ward in 1932. Wikipedia: “Taylor spent the final two years of his life in poverty”; “he was moved to Cook County Hospital’s charity ward in April, where he died on June 21, at age 53.” The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis says he was left “penniless” and that “In 1932, Taylor died in the charity ward of Cook County Hospital.” 13
14. He was buried in an unmarked pauper’s grave. Wikipedia: “He was initially buried at Mount Glenwood Cemetery … in an unmarked pauper’s grave.” The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis and the New England Historical Society: he “was buried in an unmarked pauper’s grave.” 134
15. In 1948 old racing stars gave him a proper grave. Wikipedia: “In 1948, a group of former professional bicycle racers used funds donated by Frank W. Schwinn … to organize the exhumation and reburial of Taylor’s remains in a more prominent location at the cemetery.” The New England Historical Society: “a group of old bicycle stars learned of Taylor’s fate.” The plaque itself, read on the photo: “By Bicycle Racing Stars [of the] 19th Century Association,” dedicated May 23, 1948. 148
16. His plaque says he came up the hard way, without hatred in his heart. Wikipedia: “The plaque at the grave reads: ‘World’s champion bicycle racer who came up the hard way without hatred in his heart, …’” (the New England Historical Society gives the same wording). The plaque itself: “WORLDS CHAMPION BICYCLE RACER WHO CAME UP THE HARD WAY WITHOUT HATRED IN HIS HEART.” 148
17. Today the cycling track in his hometown bears his name. Wikipedia: “the Major Taylor Velodrome in Indianapolis opened for the city’s hosting of the U.S. Olympic Festival.” Marian University, September 4, 2025: “For the third time this decade, the Major Taylor Velodrome and the Marian cycling program are excited to host the USA Cycling Collegiate Track National Championships.” 17
18. His autobiography, The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World, came out in 1928 (Wikipedia), and Frank Schwinn paid for the 1948 reburial. The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis: “In 1948, Frank Schwinn of the Schwinn Bicycle Company provided a private grave and tombstone.” 13

Sources

1. Major Taylor Wikipedia
2. Meet Major Taylor, the Fastest Man on Two Wheels National Endowment for the Humanities (Humanities magazine, Winter 2022)
3. Marshall W. (Major) Taylor Encyclopedia of Indianapolis
4. Major Taylor, World-Famous Black Athlete in 1899, Dies in Obscurity in 1932 New England Historical Society
5. Major Taylor: Champion Cyclist Beat Jim Crow Major Taylor Association (Telegram & Gazette, February 8, 1998)
6. Knickerbockers, Leagues, and Desegregation: The Kittie Knox Story Zwift
7. Marian Cycling to Host USA Track Collegiate National Championships Marian University, September 4, 2025
8. Major Taylor’s grave plaque, Mount Glenwood Memory Gardens South (photo by Nick Number, 2023) Wikimedia Commons

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