Buffalo Child Long Lance | |
|---|---|
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| Born | Sylvester Clark Long 1 December 1890 Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | March 20, 1932 (aged 41) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Pen name | Long Lance |
| Occupation | Journalist, writer |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Carlisle Indian School St. John's Military Academy |
| Genre | Journalism, autobiography |
| Notable works | Long Lance |
| Notable awards | Admitted to The Explorers Club |
Chief Buffalo Child Long Lance (born Sylvester Clark Long; December 1, 1890 – March 20, 1932) was a mixed race African-American journalist, writer and film actor, believed today to be of Lumbee descent, who, for a time, became internationally prominent as a spokesman for Native American causes. He published an autobiography, purportedly based on his experience as the son of a Blackfoot chief. He was the first presumed Native American admitted to the Explorers Club in New York City.
It has been traditionally speculated whether Long was of any indigenous ancestry; he claimed to be of mixed Cherokee, white and black heritage, at a time when Southern society imposed strict binary divisions of heritage in a racially-segregated society. After his tribal claims were unable to be verified and the truth about his African-American heritage came out, he was dropped by these same social circles to which he had gained entry.[1] Today, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and other scholars generally consider Long to have been of Lumbee descent, an indigenous population known for its tri-racial heritage.[2][3] During Long's lifetime, the Lumbee people were referred to by various names by the North Carolina General Assembly, including the "Cherokee Indians of Robeson County." This name lasted until 1956, when the population was formally redesignated by Congress as Lumbee.[3]
- ^ Catherine Bainbridge, Linda Ludwick, Christina Fon (September 10, 2009). Reel Injun: On the Trail of the Hollywood Indian (Documentary Film). Catherine Bainbridge, Christina Fon, Linda Ludwick.: 20m, 41s–21m, 51s
- ^ "Long Lance". lumbeetribe.com. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ a b Cannon, Sarita (2021). Black-Native Autobiographical Acts: Navigating the Minefields of Authenticity. New York: Lexington Books. pp. 30–31. ISBN 9781793630582.