In the heart of the Jim Crow South, where Black Americans were often denied dignity, John William “Bud” Rogan stood tall—both literally and morally.
Born in Tennessee in 1868, Rogan grew to be 8 feet 9 inches tall, making him the tallest Black American in history and second only to Robert Wadlow worldwide. Newspapers dubbed him the “Negro Giant,” and sideshow agents lined up with contracts promising fame and fortune.
But Rogan refused to be exhibited.
He didn’t want to be gawked at. He wanted to live life on his own terms.
Though a rare condition (likely ankylosis) left him unable to walk or stand, Rogan created an incredible solution: a custom goat-drawn cart made from his bed—essentially a mobile wheelchair. With it, he moved around town independently.
He earned a living greeting incoming trains and carrying luggage to hotels, never asking for pity or a spectacle—just the chance to work with dignity.
John Rogan didn’t just defy his biology.
He defied the expectations of his time—and triumphed.
