Ten Things You Should Know About
Major Taylor

It’s Black History Month and time to highlight those we know well and others we may not know at all. Travel with Annita shares the Ten Things You Should Know About Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor. He Was the World’s First Black Sports Superstar

1. Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor (1878–1932) became an international celebrity in cycling — at a time when most sports barred Black athletes entirely.

2. He Was a World Champion During the Jim Crow Era
-In 1899, Taylor became World Cycling Champion.
-In 1900, he won the American Sprint Championship.
-He set numerous track cycling records.

3. He Was Only the Second Black World Champion in Any Sport
Before Taylor, only George Dixon, a Black boxing champion, had held a world title (1891). Taylor followed eight years later.

4. He Fought Racism Just to Get to the Starting Line
In the era of lynching and segregation, Taylor faced:
Race bans, closed competitions, physical attacks from competitors and hostile crowds
Even with all of that, he responded with dignity and performance.

5. He Raced in an Era When Cycling Was America’s Biggest Sport
In the late 1890s, bicycle racing filled Madison Square Garden.
Promoters knew crowds would come to see him sometimes marketed crudely as “Black vs. White.”

6. He Was Known by Legendary Nicknames
-“Major” — nickname from his youth in Indianapolis
-“The Worcester Whirlwind” was earned after moving to Massachusetts and dominating races

7. He Helped Open Professional Cycling to Black Athletes
Even when amateur cycling organizations banned Black riders, Taylor earned a professional license forcing the sport to confront its racism.

8. Europe Treated Him Like a Superstar
When he raced in Europe starting in 1901, he was welcomed as a champion and celebrity. For the first time, being Black was not used to exclude him.

9. He Was a Man of Deep Faith and Principle
Taylor refused to race on Sundays for years, even when it cost him major opportunities, showing discipline beyond athletics was his approach.

10. He Told His Own Story
In retirement, he wrote his autobiography:
“The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World”  preserving his story in his own voice.
Major Taylor wasn’t just fast. He was proof that excellence could not be contained by prejudice. His legacy lives on through: Scholarships, memorial projects, cycling events named in his honor, Hall of Fame inductions, films and documentaries about his life

He rode through barriers and cleared the track for generations.