”Pablo Fanque” wasn’t his real name, but then again, it was hard to know what was real and what wasn’t about him. But there was something about him that WAS a dead giveaway.
Fanque loved horses. Aside from caring for them, he could also do extraordinary tricks with them. Perhaps that was why he ended up performing in the circus! However, it wasn’t his incredible equestrian skills that made his such a standout.
In early 1800s England, he was the only Black person to perform such skills. His skin color made him a spectacle to white crowds, but his skill made them into fans of his work. It wasn’t long before he owned his own circus - the only Black one in the country - but this was a sight the world had never seen for another reason, too.
Because unlike all other circuses across the globe, he didn’t mistreat his performers. He paid them well, provided them benefits, and respected them. As a result, his circus truly became one of the most well loved and lucrative in the world.
Fanque, as mysterious as he was, made a fortune by paying his workers well and respecting them at a time when such methods were unheard of. His reminder to us is definitely not hard to figure out. Well-paid, well-treated workers create well-being for everyone!