Was The Real LONE RANGER African-American? New Information Surfaces

Bass Reeves a 19th century former slave turned Lawman, could have been the inspiration for the fictional character The Lone Ranger.

A historian at Suburban College Illinois, Art Burton, who has been researching the life story of Bass Reeves suggested that many of the attributes and techniques The Lone Ranger had were similar to Bass Reeves' techniques. The Lone Ranger is known for being in disguise, Art Burton argued that Bass Reeves similarly put on disguises in order to catch criminals, dressing up as a preacher and a woman at times.

the other similarities suggested by Art Burton was that Bass Reeves used to leave behind silver coins as a form of thanks at places he was staying, The Lone Ranger leaves behind silver bullets as his calling card.

Similarly many of the criminals arrested by Bass Reeves were brought to the House Of Corrections in Detroit, which is the same city that The Lone Ranger was created in by George Trendle and Frank Striker.

Bass Reeves was born a slave in Arkansas in 1838. In 1860 he was sent to the front lines of the Civil War working as a servant in the confederate army. Bass Reeves managed to escape to the Indian territory which was in the region of the now state of Oklahoma where he lived with the native americans.
While there he learnt there language and tracking skills and also horse riding techniques.

Bass Reeves was honored last year with a statue.