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.
Although he took on acting roles as a native American, he real name was actually Sylvester Long,
and his ancestry was mixed African American and Native American. He
committed suicide once his full background was exposed.