Mollie Stevenson, Jr.

Multicultural Ranching History Preserved

Mollie Stevenson, Jr., carried herself with the elegance of a model and the wisdom of an old ranch hand when she was inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas. Stevenson, Jr., 62, was honoredby the museum in 2001 for her work in educating the public about the important roles of multicultural settlers in Western history and her families own ranching legacy. She founded the American Cowboy Museum on her family’s Texas ranch to highlight the role of blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, and women in the West.

One of her cherished artifacts is on display. It is a copy of her great grandmother’s slave paper, which, as expected, never fails to mesmerize. “So few people have seen one: She was sold into slavery for life in Texas in 1856, before the Emancipation Proclamation,”
says Stevenson Jr., whose interest in education and ranching is a family tradition.

Her mother grew up on the 150-year-old ranch, attended college, and then returned. During the era of segregation, she invited black children out to the ranch to play.
“Black kids couldn’t go to the city parks, so she brought them out by the truckload,” Stevenson Jr. says.

Today the ranch is one of the oldest black-owned ranches in America. This legacy began when her mother’s grandfather, E. R. Taylor, a white man, married Ann, a slave, despite laws prohibiting interracial marriages. The two lived together on the ranch and instilled the importance of education, love of the land and public service—values that prevail in the family to this day. In addition, the family donated a 26-acre preserve to the Houston Parks Board so children could visit and interact with goats, peacocks, and other animals.

Her mother would be proud, says close friend Marsha Harris. “There’s a lot of Mollie Sr. in Mollie Jr.” Harris says. “She’s thoughtful, full of energy, and takes great pleasure in sharing what she loveswith others.”

Mollie Stevenson, Jr. - Multicultural Pioneer

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CULTURE AMERICA is the MELTING POT

South Texas Cowboy — Thu, 2010-04-22 11:35

Many folks are very naive to the culture that represents America. This culture continues to grow and often introduces new life styles which are influenced by often another culture.

History does show the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock. However, before they came, a culture was already being developed. The Vikings had landed off Canada hundred of years before. The Spanish had landed much further south bringing a culture that grew into the horsemen and cattle raising which moved north out of Mexico and south to the tip of Argentina.

Seattle's came seeking a new life. Some for freedom, some for fortune. Many escaping liberties which they did not have in the homelands. I'm glad they came.

Some forced to come to the new world to work the fields. Others built the railroad. Some forced into working bordellos. Nevertheless, most bringing something that help build a great nation.

More often, they were disrespected than given the due respect which they deserve. Often based on religion, race or wealth. Culture is something to be appreciated. It does not have to fit my own way of life just as much my way of life may not fit the life for someone else. Nevertheless, it should be respected providing it does not infringe my liberties, my freedoms and my pursuit of happiness. Not everyone today desires to be a cowboy and I respect that. I hope they can appreciate my contributions as much as I appreciate theirs. God Bless the U.S.A.

Roger Edison

http://cowboyandchuckwagoncooking.blogspot.com/

This is one very nice piece

Flunky — Thu, 2010-04-22 12:08

This is one very nice piece you wrote here.

I don't know how accurate the term melting pot is anymore. You don't get some uniform stuff, all looking the same, as the result like you would with some real melting pot. You get chunks, bits and pieces, you can really tell what's what, and that's perfectly fine with me.

So, in a way, I call this a stew or something. You can tell the meat from the potatoes but it all tastes great when combined and it's good to have it all in the same pot.

This is why I joined here. Been around for less than a week, and I've already seen a whole bunch of articles that just tell it like it is. Best of all, I don't have to go around and explain myself and why I am like this to a bunch of fellas who don't wanna hear it and just wanna call me stubborn or unwilling to change and all that.

Well, thanks again for this article and I hope you didn't mind me commenting on it too much.

A Common Culture

Cracker Cowboy — Wed, 2010-01-06 10:02

While I am not against having folks honored because of their accomplishments and hard work, I am against honoring people over another because of their particular culture, and trying to be some political correct advocate.
The United States became United because we all had a common culture. When others brought their culture here, they were accepted on the terms that they adapted to our culture, our faith and our ways. We are not to accept the cultures of people coming over here from other countries that are 3rd world countries, or have a form of dictatorialship government, or any other type of government other than ours. Why? Because then we make ourselves just like them. Do you think their country is better than America? If you think America is greater and better than obviously refusing to emphasis other people adapting to our culture, and expressing that we need to accept their culture is the same as trying to promote their faith and their ways, which does not build a country that is United, does not work in Democracy. The faith and culture that built this country, is what works. Lets promote that!
Lets stop the inter faith trash to please all the foreigners and different cultures. Lets get back to being Americans, where the foreigners must adapt to our language, our faith, Baptist and Protestant is the faith in America, adapt to us. We don't go around cow towing to a bunch culturalist who's agenda is to destroy America by replacing the core fabric that made America United, blessed by God and great!

Cracker Cowboy