KEEPING SAVANNAH ON THE MAP Pg. 1
Dublin Core
Title
KEEPING SAVANNAH ON THE MAP Pg. 1
Description
“The automobile races which the Negros of this city have been holding for the past two years have gone a long ways toward giving Savannah publicity in other fields. This kind of sport is a rather expensive pastime and thousands of dollars have been spent in these races since the first venture of this kind pulled off here a little more than eighteen months ago, but every dollar expended by public to witness these races, now numbering four in all, has brought excellent returns to the city in general aside from giving the thousands of spectators an afternoon full of the most exciting and thrilling kind of sports.
Since the first races of this kind held here on July fourth of last year, the name of our city has resounded from one part of the country to another. Many here looked upon the initial effort along this line as a joke and made many predictions that it would result in a slaughter for those who participated in the affair. They expected untold death to follow in the wake of the Negro’s entry in this branch of sport, but they were mistaken, the colored drivers who took part in the hair raising events on this memorable Independence day hurling their iron steeds around the half mile track with a degree of skill that won praise for them on all sides. They were courageous and daring and took all the chances that are usually seen in these death-defying exhibitions and when the day had come to an end another victory in the field of sport had been scored by the Negro. The success of the undertaking traveled far and wide and today wherever there are any appreciable numbers of Negroes Savannah’s fame as an automobile racing city is known.
These semi-annual races have come to be looked upon as the chief sporting even among Negroes in this part of the country and whenever they are held there are scores of out-of-town visitors present to witness the skill of the colored automobile driver. These races, too, have demonstrated, as in other lines of sports into which he has entered, that the normal Negro racing driver is endowed with the same attributes which characterize men of other races who take a chance in such events. He has just started in these more death-defying sports and his entry has been wrought with much success. We are pleased that he had his entry in this branch of sport here in Savannah, at least in a big way, for it has brought much commendable publicity to our city.. The committee of young Negro business men who are heading this venture here, has the city no small honor in promoting these races which have given Savannah much noteworthy publicity----- far and near.”
Since the first races of this kind held here on July fourth of last year, the name of our city has resounded from one part of the country to another. Many here looked upon the initial effort along this line as a joke and made many predictions that it would result in a slaughter for those who participated in the affair. They expected untold death to follow in the wake of the Negro’s entry in this branch of sport, but they were mistaken, the colored drivers who took part in the hair raising events on this memorable Independence day hurling their iron steeds around the half mile track with a degree of skill that won praise for them on all sides. They were courageous and daring and took all the chances that are usually seen in these death-defying exhibitions and when the day had come to an end another victory in the field of sport had been scored by the Negro. The success of the undertaking traveled far and wide and today wherever there are any appreciable numbers of Negroes Savannah’s fame as an automobile racing city is known.
These semi-annual races have come to be looked upon as the chief sporting even among Negroes in this part of the country and whenever they are held there are scores of out-of-town visitors present to witness the skill of the colored automobile driver. These races, too, have demonstrated, as in other lines of sports into which he has entered, that the normal Negro racing driver is endowed with the same attributes which characterize men of other races who take a chance in such events. He has just started in these more death-defying sports and his entry has been wrought with much success. We are pleased that he had his entry in this branch of sport here in Savannah, at least in a big way, for it has brought much commendable publicity to our city.. The committee of young Negro business men who are heading this venture here, has the city no small honor in promoting these races which have given Savannah much noteworthy publicity----- far and near.”
Creator
N/A
Publisher
Savannah Tribune
Date
1922-9-7
Collection
Citation
N/A, “KEEPING SAVANNAH ON THE MAP Pg. 1,” African American Fourth of July, accessed April 30, 2024, https://africanamerican4th.omeka.net/items/show/220.