Chief Buffalo Child Long Lance

Chief Buffalo Child Long Lance was born Sylvester Clark Long in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He was the son of Joseph S. Long. Chief Buffalo Child Long Lance's career started when he was employed by a wild west show, whose owner mistook him for native American. It being the 1920's, he knew that the racial prejudices of the time would keep him from advancing his career if he ever did correct anyone as to what his background was. Long Lance took the opportunity to emerge himself in the culture of his co-workers and even was so skilled as to become fluent in Cherokee. He went on to star in "The Silent Enemy" a film that exposed how hunger was silently killing Native Americans across the reservations at the time. When it became common knowledge that Long Lance was part African American, he lost his career and many friends. This drove him to battle alcoholism and eventually lend to his death. On March 20th, 1932 he committed suicide.