美国黑人先驱者创建了美国中西部文化（在线收听）

African-American Pioneers Helped

Shape America’s Midwest

美国黑人先驱者创建了美国中西部文化

A group of African-American cowboys on horseback is a rare sight in the central agricultural state of Kansas.

This is Nicodemus, the first all-black pioneer town, established on the prairie 128 years ago. Every summer this tiny town holds a homecoming with a gathering and parade to celebrate its heritage.

Carol Alexander has deep roots in the town.

Carol Alexander: I was born four miles [six kilometers] from Nicodemus, my father was born in Nicodemus, my grandfather came directly from Scott County Kentucky to Nicodemus. And I feel that it's just a part of me.

In 1877 freed slaves came to a barren spot in Kansas to make a place where they could determine their own lives.

Angela Bates is the Executive Director of the Nicodemus Historical Society.

Angela Bates: And about 350 people decided they were going to actually make the trip and actually help populate this little all-black community.

They had been encouraged to come to the barren prairie by unscrupulous land agents, says Kim Thomas, who is the mayor of a nearby town.

Kim Thomas: Because of false advertising, you might say, you think you're coming to the Promised Land and then you get out here and you know it's barren.

Living in earth-covered huts the settlers used their determination and farming skills and a town began to take shape. Some of the original structures remain.

First built were two churches, then a schoolhouse and later a small hotel and a town hall.

Angela Bates: They brought their skills with them, ok, they brought all their experiences from slavery.

As the town grew, there were hopes for a railroad stop, but the rail line bypassed Nicodemus.

Angela Bates: People began to be really discouraged. They knew that they were never going to get the railroad. They knew that the town was probably going to eventually die because they didn't get the railroad. And then people continued to leave until the 1930s. Presently there are only about 25 people that live here.

Today, Nicodemus is like many struggling mid-western towns where the young people leave for the cities.

Resident Kim Thomas: I was lucky to stay in this area because most my age had to leave to find jobs.

Nicodemus is now a National Historic Site and tourists and African-Americans from all over come to see where black pioneers built their own town from the ground up.

Angela Bates: Because we are African-American we have to hold on to something. We have to hold on to ourselves. This is a place where people can experience the past, become educated about our past and be very proud of our past.

Tim Wardner, VOA news, Nicodemus, Kansas.

注释：

prairie [5prZEri] n. 大草原

homecoming [5hEum7kQmiN] n. 回老家

parade [pE5reid] n. 游行

heritage [5heritidV] n. 传统

determine [di5tE:min] v. 决定

unscrupulous [Qn5skru:pjulEs] adj. 无道德的

barren [5bArEn] adj. 贫瘠的

take shape v. 成形