What's Black and White and Red all over?

What's Black and White and Red all over?
A legend of the Old West has roots in Virginia
Tall tales--some started by himself--surround the life of Jim Beckwourth, a Northern Neck native who blazed a trail out West.
By Ann McDuffie

Writing for Fredericksburg.com and the Free Lance Star, Ann McDuffie tackles the very full life of James P. Beckwith, a son of Sir Jennings Beckwith, whose family lived in and around Fredericksburg before making their way out west, where adventure, exploration and discovery were a daily fact of life. At some point in his life, Beckwith changed the spelling of his name to include "Beckwourth", which he may have taken to fancy.

I have read several of the volumes written about Beckwourth, and consider him to be one of the most American of our early pioneers. I wish Americans today would live up to the standards he set for himself back then.