in memory of
Charles E. Wiggins
Jul 15, 1897 - Mar 11, 1979 Age: 81
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About Charles Wiggins
Pioneer African American race driver. Wiggins was an outstanding mechanic and race car driver/owner whose skills were worthy of his entry in the Indianapolis 500 Classic and other "big time" events, but he lived at a time when racial barriers prevented him from doing so. Disguised as a janitor, he was able to work behind the scenes as a mechanic and helped Bill Cummings win the 1934 Indianapolis 500. Having been turned away by auto racing's bureaucracy, Wiggins helped create a national racing league for African Americans. The most widely celebrated race for black drivers was the "Gold and Glory Sweepstakes," an annual sporting event so grand it attracted the attention of national news agencies, as well as thousands of spectators coast to coast. "Charlie" was a four-time champion on the circuit, a distinction that earned him the title "the Negro Speed King." He is the subject of "For Gold and Glory," a PBS television special and companion book of the same name, and has been the subject of a display at the Indiana State Museum.
Crown Hill Cemetery
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Charles Wiggins timeline
Born
07-15-1897
Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, USA
Passed away
03-11-1979
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA
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