COLORED "CORKERS." - The Oakland Bicycle Club Has a Gala Day at Shell Mound. - Oakland Tribune, 17 Jul 1895

COLORED "CORKERS." The Oakland Bicycle Club Has a Gala Day at Shell Mound. 17 Jul 1895, Wed Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) Newspapers.com

There is little mention of Black cyclists in the 19th century. It's as if the big newspapers of the day, the ones that are preserved, that I can search, were written only for white people, for white men. When Black people are mentioned, it's often only from and for the viewpoint of the White, male. What follows is written as a humorous sketch, but it's also the first mention I find of any Black cyclists in my home town, Oakland, or my home region, the San Francisco Bay Area. More to come about the Oakland Bicycle Club (colored), AKA the Oakland Cycling Club. Throughout the articles I could find, there is mention of Black cycling clubs, races, and even a league, but I could find only some references to them, and the people in the stories are barely in the historical record. I apologize for re-sharing hateful words, but I think that this is important history. - MF

COLORED “CORKERS.”

The Oakland Bicycle Club Has a Gala Day at Shell Mound. 

The annual picnic of the Oakland Bicycle Club (colored) was held yesterday at Shell Mound park. The club, 100 strong, paraded Broadway on their way to the park and as the notes of the bugles rang out storekeepers and clerks were edified by a novel spectacle. Stout, thin, tall and long colored men astride their wheels, arrayed in gorgeous uniforms and resplendent with badges, manoeuvered on Broadway in different drills to the amusement of the throng on the sidewalks.

The morning was passed in dancing and lunch, and at 2 o'clock the races commenced. The stands were crowded with the colored 400 of Oakland, San Jose and San Francisco.

The heavy-weight racer afforded much amusement to the crowd. The race was for 300 pounds or over and the entries were generally well over the limit. William Bland, the genial "Henry Martin" of the colored 400, arrayed in tan bloomers, was a favorite in the pools at 2 to 1. But when it required six men to lift him on the wheel his backers turned pale and made wild efforts to hedge. William drew the pole position and when the word was given six strong pair of arms shot him away in the lead, but he was soon in difficulties. At the eighth he broke and ere he could regain his equilibrium he fell with a thud that shook the grand stand and it was a case whether William or the wheel was on top. The racers behind got out of the way with the exception of a San Jose contestant, who swiftly ascended the body of the stricken William and the momentum he attained in coming down the other side was so great that he rushed to the front and won out. The band, appreciating the condition of the fallen hero, struck up a stirring piece, whereupon Bland mounted his wheel and came into the stretch chewing gum amid the wild applause of the fair sex. 

Denwidder won the mile race in 3:01.

In the free-for-all one-mile San Jose captured first, second and third money. Woodson won. Time, 2:50.

It was the unanimous opinion that the meet of the club was a huge success, The captain of the club is H. F. Williams, who exerted himself to make eyery one happy and comfortable.

Good order was maintained and not a razor was in sight, which speaks well for the colored people of Oakland.