Wild Bill’s and The Civil Rights Movement
As I mentioned in a previous post, Texans are every bit the stereotype. They are incredibly proud of their state and its brief period as a separate country in the 19th century. One place that I feel represents Texas was Wild Bill’s Western Store on North Market Street.
They sold cowboy boots, Stetsons, various leather goods, and some amazing slogan t-shirts. My favourite was one that had an image of the state of Texas on it along with a revolver (I may be British but I can identify a revolver belive it or not!) and it said “We don’t call 911”. I would have bought one but the colours on offer were a strange shade of orange or an off green.
The whole shop smelt like leather and I half expected some hay bails in the corner with some hillbilly band playing banjos and jugs. Anyway, onto the rest of Dallas. The few days I was there were very hot and very windy. It was just cooler than Nevada but with the added fun of warm gale force winds. It was like walking down the street with a hot fan blowing in front of me all the time. It was such a strong wind that the trees in front of my hotel were diagonal.
I came across an unexpected historical figure while in Dallas; Rosa Parks. It’s been a few years since I studied the Civil Rights Movement but I know that Rosa Parks did her famous protest on a bus in Alabama. So what was she doing in Dallas? If I’m honest, I still don’t know! But, the statue of her was lovely and people had placed flowers and beads on her. She looks very serene but it makes you think how crazy it is that an old lady on a bus could cause such a stir because she wouldn’t give up her seat to a white man. I felt she had a kind of knowing look on her face.
Next – More Civil Rights.