"One has to remember that back during the dark days of World War II American Indians were not allowed to drink in any local bar and this ban also included the Black military personnel at the local base. It didn�t matter if an Indian was in uniform wearing the Purple Heart or even wearing the Medal of Honor. He was not allowed in any of the Rapid City bars. It was a federal law vigorously enforced in the city.

The Main Street of Rapid City was lined with bars from 5th St. to 8th St. Bars such as The Roundup, Stockmen�s and Fitzgerald�s were popular watering holes on Main St., but no Indians or Blacks were allowed in them.

The story goes that an Indian man walked into Fitzgerald�s one day, plopped himself down at the bar and ordered a beer. The bartender said, �See the sign. No Indians allowed.� The Indian man replied, �I ain�t no Indian, I�m Mexican.� Mexicans were allowed in the Rapid City bars at the time. The bartender said, �Order your drink in Mexican.� The Indian man said, �Gimme one Beero.� Said the bartender, �Hit the bricks Indian.�"

Get the Story:
Tim Giago: They used to call them “Airdales� and �“Flaps�

Related Stories:
Tim Giago: Air Force base not a blessing to Lakotas (6/30)
Tim Giago: Tribes to claim downsized military bases (06/07)
Tim Giago: First revolutionary was a Native man (5/31)
Tim Giago: Many 'wannabe' tribes seek recognition (05/17)
Tim Giago: South Dakota press censors Indian writers (05/10)
Tim Giago: White lawyers growing fat off tribes (04/26)
Tim Giago: Gay marriage debate killed Democrats (4/19)
Tim Giago: It's time for wealthy tribes to think Indian (04/05)
Tim Giago: Wealthy tribes don't need federal funds (03/31)
Tim Giago: Gaming leads to addiction, crime (03/22)
Tim Giago: Discrimination in the media and advertising (03/08)
Tim Giago: Black Hills land theft a dishonest deal (03/01)
Tim Giago: Committing slow suicide with foods (02/15)
Tim Giago: Bush probably still against Indian gaming (01/25)
Tim Giago: Calvary re-enactors should know better (01/18)
Tim Giago: Racism continues in South Dakota (11/30)
Tim Giago: Should we listen to Osama bin Laden? (11/23)
Tim Giago: GOP moral values will hurt Indian Country (11/09)
Tim Giago: Indian reformists stamped out tribes (11/02)
Tim Giago: I'm not a racist and I haven't seen NMAI yet (09/29)
Tim Giago: Eastern tribes are African-American (09/15)
Tim Giago: Indians have cause to fear Republicans (07/21)
Tim Giago: Casinos create culture of 'us' and 'them' (06/30)
Tim Giago: Boarding schools cause of many ills (06/14)
Tim Giago: 'Real' Indians don't fight over money (04/05)
Tim Giago now plans to run for Senate as independent (03/31)
Tim Giago: Indians pay no taxes, and other myths (01/26)
Giago: Indian gaming erodes tribal sovereignty (01/07)
Giago: Gays were highly respected by Sioux Nation (09/22)
Tim Giago: I'm a fully recovered Catholic (09/11)
Giago: State should refund tax money first (08/06)
Giago: Oprah show changed minds on Indian mascots (07/31)