Today in Black History: December 5th
1870 – Bill Pickett Is Born
Bill Pickett, known as “the Dusky Demon,” was a Texas-born cowboy of Indian and Black descent. Born on December 5th, 1870, from humble beginnings, he became the most famous Black cowboy entertainer in American history. Pickett appeared in silent films and staged productions across the U.S. and England, performing as a trick-roper, bull-rider, and steer wrestler with the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch and Wild West Show. He invented steer wrestling, or bulldogging, and set a standard for skill and showmanship that continues to influence rodeo today.
A close friend of cowboy movie star Tom Mix and comedian Will Rogers, Pickett’s performances captured the nation’s imagination. Despite facing racial barriers, including being banned from Madison Square Garden, he popularized the image of the Black cowboy. Pickett was the first Black man inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame and became the face of a U.S. postage stamp. His legacy reshaped the image of Black men in the American West.
1918 – Charity Earley Is Born
Lieutenant Colonel Charity Edna Adams Earley was the first African American woman officer in the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) and commanded the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion during World War II. Born on December 5, 1918, in Kittrell, North Carolina, Adams excelled academically, graduating as valedictorian from Booker T. Washington High School and later earning a degree in Mathematics, Physics, and Latin from Wilberforce University. She taught math and science before joining the WAAC in 1942, where she quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the highest-ranking Black female officer in the Army.
In 1944, Adams led the 6888th Battalion, the first all-Black female unit deployed overseas, stationed in England. Her battalion sorted and delivered mail to over 7 million troops in just three months, completing their mission ahead of schedule. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, Adams retired after the war, later earning a master’s degree and working in education and government. She passed away on January 13, 2002.
