It was 1871. The Freeman family was an intrepid and adventurous clan who emerged from the Civil War and the dissolution of slavery. Unfortunately, they did not go unscathed. Nathanial Freeman and his wife Isabella, were freed slaves wo were both killed during a bloody battle of the Civil War. They were survived by their sons, Huey and Riley as well as Nathanial's father, Robert Jedidiah Freeman. Following the Civil War, the 2 boys fell under the care of Robert who was a self-proclaimed Civil War legend. Wanting the best for his family, they transferred from St. Louis, Missouri to Chicago, Illinois. Then, everything changed when Robert learned of the vast opportunities out West. It was then that the elderly Freeman packed up his grandson and they set out for the United States Territory of Utah.

The Freemans were nearing the Monument Valley of Utah. That valley nestled Navajo Indian territory as well as the Freemans' future home, the town Tumbleweedcrest. Riding in a covered wagon pulled by 3 powerful horses, Robert controlled the reins while Huey acted as navigator. Meanwhile, Riley daydreamed. According to Huey's gold pocket watch from his father, it was 10:15 in the morning. The boys were roused by Robert's optimistic announcement.

"Boys! Once we hit Utah, we'll be rich! We're going to dig up gold and oil! We'll be the richest negroes in the Union!"

"Right. And a black man will be president of the Union someday" Huey replied sarcastically.

"Aye Huey, stop bein' a hater!" Riley yelled. "We niggas ain't gonna get no president! Frederick Douglas was a bitch ass nigga! Buffalo Bill's much cooler!"

"Buffalo Bill is white."

"Nigga, we gonna meet tons of new white people. Get used to 'em!"

"Riley's right, boy" added Robert. How many more miles?"

"Well we made it to Utah. We just crossed the Colorado River" replied Huey after scrutinizing his map. "We'll be just north of Monument Valley. Why can't we just go to Salt Lake City, Granddad?"

"Because, Salt Lake City has gold but that gold has already been dug up! Tumbleweedcrest is much less developed and not as populated! There's not even 200 people there."

"I'm gonna be the first nigga to wear a gold chain!" declared Riley at the top of his young lungs. Huey Freeman rolled his eyes. Born the year the Civil War started, he had recently turned 10 years old. He wasn't sure if being born the year that bloody war commenced was a blessing or an omen. As an atheist, he cared for neither. All he knew was that he was proud to have been born free and he would always honor those slaves who never found freedom or died standing up for abolition. Meanwhile, his younger brother was a completely different story.

Born in 1863, the height of the Civil War, Riley Freeman could barely remember his mother or father. He was always taught that he was blessed to have been born free but he seemed to have taken that for granted. Born into a world of hatred and defacing racism, Riley never seemed to take no for an answer, even when faced by a white person. His mentality for greed made him stick out like a sore thumb amongst his African-American brethren. He had a knack for self-proclaiming that he was invincible and that he would end up wealthy and in charge of gangs and hoes.

Several blazing hours later, the Freemans spotted a sign. The sign read:

TUMBLEWEEDCREST. UTAH TERRITORY.

POP. 166

10 minutes later, they spotted something even better: the outskirts of what appeared to be the small town of Tumbleweedcrest.

While the Freemans approached Tumbleweedcrest, another pending resident was just committing to spend the rest of eternity there in said town.

"Thank you so much for recruiting me to be sheriff of your fine town, Mayor Wuncler!"

"No problem, Uncle Ruckus! I think with your confederate military experience, you will make a great replacement sheriff for the developing town of Tumbleweedcrest!" Mayor Edward Wuncler replied.

"May I ask, what became of your former sheriff? Did niggas kill him?"

"Oh no, this is Utah Territory my friend. The damn Injuns killed him!"

"Holy moly! My sympathies from White Jesus himself!"

"Yes thank you" Wuncler stated as he led Ruckus into a deserted sheriff's office. "So here's your front desk, you can order fresh coffee, and those are 3 jail cells for holding folks."

"Does Tumbleweedcrest get much crime, Mayor Wuncler?"

"Oh no, not really. If anything, the Navajo Injuns to the west stir up the most trouble around here. Fuckin' buffalo jockeys…"

"What do these Injuns do?"

"Once they raided our pantries for food. They've also scared our childfren on several occasions. And, they're just there!"

"I see your point Sir."

"Wonderful. In your desk is a map showing locations in the surrounding area where we know the Indians have been and where they live. Safe keeping purposes really. Okay, I think that just about covers it."

"Mayor Wuncler, I have one last question…"

"What is it now?!"

"Are there…. Negroes in this town?" Wuncler sighed and closed his eyes.

"Yes." Ruckus seem to freeze. "One guy named Tom. Has a white wife and a mulatto daughter. He's the local attorney actually."

"That is horrible news, Mr. Mayor…"

"Hey look outside, looks like we got more niggers coming." Wuncler pointed outside. Ruckus glued his eyes to the window and immediately, he gaped in terror. Outside, a covered wagon pulled by 3 sturdy oxen rode by. The 3 occupants were 3 black males, one old man and two children.

"No, no, no! This can't be!" cried Sheriff Uncle Ruckus.

"Well, I might as well go say hello to them" groaned Mayor Wuncler.

"Careful Mr. Mayor. Don't trust them new niggas over there! Leaving their nigga essences in the air —"

"Okay Ruckus. I get it; I'll watch my ass" Wuncler coldly replied to his new sheriff as he headed outside to greet the travelers. "Greetings travelers! Welcome to Tumbleweedcrest! The nicest little town in the entire Utah Territory! I'm Mayor Wuncler!"

"Oh well it is an honor to meet you, Mayor Wuncler!" Robert Freeman replied. Robert jumped off the wagon and shook Mayor Wuncler's hand.

"I see you got boys with you."

"Yes Sir. Those are my grandsons, Huey and Riley."

"Grandsons? No parents?"

"Unfortunately, no parents. Their parents were killed in the war. Unlike them, I was a veteran!" Robert bragged.

"Where are y'all from?" Wuncler asked, ignoring Robert's optimistic gloating.

"Chicago. Those boys was born in Missouri while I was born in Mississippi."

"Ah so you got Southern roots then."

"Yes Sir."

"So what brings y'all here exactly?"

"The job opportunities! I hope you don't mind me saying this, but I have always dreamed of being a negro who owned his own plot of land." Wuncler seemed to pause and think for a moment.

"I'll tell you what, Robert. I'll loan you a plot of land for you to have. 7 acres of pasture. Plenty of room for your oxen."

"Oh that would be just wonderful Mr. Mayor!"

"Mayor Wuncler, what in the hell are you thinking?!" Uncle Ruckus stormed over and interrupted the conversation .

"I'm offering these folks some land, Ruckus."

"Ruckus?" Robert asked of the new man.

"I am Sheriff Uncle Ruckus! No relation. As sheriff of this white God-fearing town, I find it intolerable that niggas can live in this town for free basically!"

"Pipe down Ruckus! As Mayor, I say what goes around here."

"Yes Sir…" Ruckus sighed. Before leaving, Ruckus turned back to the Freemans. "I'm watching you negroes. The West don't really need much new color, especially black!"

While Robert conversed with Mayor Wuncler, Huey and Riley took in their new surroundings. They saw buildings labeled "SALOON", "ATTORNEY'S OFFICE", "POST OFFICE", "UNDERTAKER", "GENERAL STORE", and "SHERRIF's OFFICE". The town was essentially a single two-way street that what it lacked in wagon traffic, it made up for with people traffic. Passerby's littered the streets. People and animals traveled all over.

"Aye, I know math is gay but I clearly remember that sign saying this town only got 166 people" observed Riley.

"You're right" responded Huey. "This is at least half the town in this burrow alone."

"I don't see no other black people" grumbled Riley.

"Me neither" said Huey. "This feels like a step down from Chicago."

"Agreed nigga, agreed. Think the kids here are cool?"

"Who knows?"

Suddenly, Robert got back on the wagon.

"Boys! We got us some land!" he announced with pride.

Robert followed Mayor Wuncler who rode on horseback out of the town square and towards the city limits. On the way, they passed housing of various income levels, ranging from mere shacks to impressive ranch houses. Wuncler stopped at an open pastured field that had a fenced in perimeter. Also, a wooden cottage stood in the far left corner.

"Here she is" announced Wuncler. "It's been deserted for about 3 years but I'm sure it's still cozy."

"Oh thank you Mayor Wuncler! Thank you!" Robert responded joyfully.

"Pleasure's all mine, Robert. Glad to see my town getting a little more diverse. Hope you don't mind me saying that."

"No, not at all Sir."

"My father owned slaves but unlike him, I wanted to go West. I wanted fortune. I wanted power not in the form of whipping men but in the form of treasure and politics. So, that's how I ended up out here. The West pretty much accepts anyone; except Injuns of course."

"Oh, I understand."

"You know Robert, in exchange for having this land, I'd like a little favor from you and your boys."

"What do you want us to do Sir?" Robert inquired.

"I need you to take care of some of my animals. I like to give them new real estate and your pastures would be perfect. I see you got some oxen so I'm sure y'all could learn the roots of being cowboys. I got horses and cattle. Cattle get moved around often for breeding and slaughter. If you agree, you can live here for as long as you want."

"Deal!" Robert declared as he signed a deed produced by Mayor Wuncler.

"Splendid! My grandson, Edward the Third should bring a share of my animals over in the next few days. In the meantime, settle in. Do you have any money?"

"No…. Spent it all on that wagon and food for our trip" Robert sighed.

"Okay. I can give you a day pass to the General Store and the Saloon. One day free."

"Thank you so much Sir!"

"Where's the gold at?" Riley piped. Huey sighed, guessing Riley was probably supposed to keep his mouth shut.

"Ah I see your boys want to be cowboys and prospectors! Well, they'll learn plenty in school."

"School?!" cried Riley.

"I best get going. I'll stay in touch. Good luck, Robert Freedman!" Wuncler said as he rode off on his steed.

"Boys, welcome to your new lives!" Robert declared as he made his way to their new house. "Well don't just stand there! Unpack the wagon!" he ordered Huey and Riley. "And bring me my flask of orange juice!"

At the end of that same day, the town that designated Tumbleweedcrest had been updated to say:

TUMBLEWEEDCREST. UTAH TERRITORY.

POP. 170