美国黑人先驱者创建了美国中西部文化

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 gathering¹ and parade to celebrate its heritage².

 

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 barren³ spot in Kansas to make a place where they could determine their own lives.

 

Angela Bates is the Executive⁴ Director of the Nicodemus Historical Society.

 

Angela Bates: And about 350 people decided⁶ 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 advertising⁷, 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 bypassed⁸ 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 Historic⁵ 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

1 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

2 heritage   

n.传统，遗产，继承物

参考例句：

• The ancient buildings are part of the national heritage.这些古建筑是民族遗产的一部分。
• We Chinese have a great cultural heritage.我们中国人有伟大的文化遗产。

3 barren   

adj.贫瘠的，不（生）育的，没有结果的

参考例句：

• The place used to be a stretch of barren land.早先这里是一片不毛之地。
• The barren land could produce little food.那贫瘠的土地几乎不长庄稼。

4 executive   

adj.执行的，行政的；n.执行者，行政官，经理

参考例句：

• A good executive usually gets on well with people.一个好的高级管理人员通常与人们相处得很好。
• He is a man of great executive ability.他是个具有极高管理能力的人。

5 historic   

adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的

参考例句：

• This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

8 bypassed   

绕过，避开( bypass的过去式和过去分词 )； 不顾

参考例句：

• The question can be bypassed. 这个问题可以撇开不管。
• He bypassed his colleagues on the board and went ahead with the deal. 他未征求董事会中同事的意见就做了这笔交易。