MAJOR TAYLOR

Riding to glory.

Not many know the name Marshall Walter Taylor. A century ago, however, he was celebrated around the globe for his dominance in the sport of bicycle racing. His inspiring life story is told in this spirited graphic biography by Noland, an artist whose work centers on overlooked Black historical figures. He begins by outlining the bicycle’s origins, zipping through lively descriptions of “proto-bicycles,” such as the “quintessentially Victorian” high-wheeler; once a “novelty for the rich,” the bicycle in the late-19th century came to be mass-produced, allowing people from all walks of life to explore their surroundings on the “machine of freedom.” Into this world emerged an Indiana boy who took to his bike, at age 11, to sell newspapers to help his family. Young Marshall was also a natural on two wheels, blessed with acrobatic skills that drew the attention of onlookers. One of them was Tom Hay, a bike shop owner who hired the lad. “Pishposh,” says Hay. “You aren’t a paperboy. You are a performer!” Hay promoted Marshall to “Major” and encouraged him to compete in his first race—which he won. In little time, he was taking part in other contests; in 1892, at 13, he was in the top three finishers in an Illinois race, despite being “the youngest, smallest, and the only Black rider.” As Taylor’s stature grew, the League of American Wheelmen, which had banned Black members, changed its course and accepted Taylor, in part because of the buzz it would generate. Taylor’s victories did not come without obstacles. Even as he became a famous athlete—and one of the wealthiest Black men in Massachusetts—he received threats, was denied lodging and entry into races, and suffered injuries after being struck by fellow riders. Yet the perseverance of this “polite and levelheaded…model Christian” shines through in Noland’s evocative drawings, the thrill of the races and the gentleness of this rare soul vividly captured in panel after panel.

A rousing tribute to an athlete whose star has dimmed over the generations but deserves to shine again.