Noah Dixon, played by Don Franklin was the only African-American rider on the show. He joined the riders in the second season of the series and proved to be a nice addition. Even though only a few black men were employed by Russell, Majors & Waddell, none of them were actual express riders. Nonetheless, Noah's character was well accepted and it allowed for the riders new ideas and thoughts when it came to the impending Civil War that would eventually separate them.
Noah was the son of a free black man who had a history of helping other slaves escape into freedom. His parents were killed during a raid when he wasn't yet five, and he was able to escape with the help of a woman who would take on the job of raising him.
In one episode in particular that gave a look into Noah's past, the woman found Noah to convince him to travel with her with a wagon train to the west coast to leave on a ship to return to Africa. When it is discovered that the woman has quite a bit of money that she is using to finance the trip, she is killed for it. Noah was meant to leave on the boat, but he stays and is hired as a rider for the Pony Express.
Noah is accepted by all of the riders, but he seems to have the most problems with the Kid mainly because of Kid's background and being Southern. But they soon resolve their problems and become friends. When Jesse comes along, they become good friends and stick together. But in the end, that friendship hits some trouble as Jesse's arrogance and stupidity about the war gets between them.
Noah had a lot to prove in the beginning because he is so different than the other riders. The other riders each had to face a certain discrimination for being who they were, but Noah faced a different one altogether. It was a very difficult era for the black man, to say the least. Many of the townspeople were unaccepting of him. They even tried to pin a couple of murders on him because he was black, but in the end justice came through, even though it still never changed their attitudes. But this never discouraged Noah. It only made him fight harder for his cause. Noah was personally involved in Freedom Trains to help runaway slaves to freedom. In one attempt, Noah is caught and nearly sold into slavery. But with the help of his friends, he is saved.
Noah's prized possession is a silver saddle that belonged to his father. Noah nearly lost the saddle when he was caught by a con-artist, but thanks to Rachel and Lou, they were able to win it back by winning a hand of cards. As you know, the other riders were experts with guns, but Noah didn't necessarily prove himself with a gun. Noah's trademark was his bullwhip. He used it well, leaving many impressed with how he used it.
But all of this couldn't help what would eventually happen. As the war approached and the riders were pulled in separate directions, Noah felt the heat of the war only too strong. He tried to enlist in the Army but was rejected because of his color. When he decided to help them in an ambush planned by the Army he was shot and killed, leaving many to hold Jesse responsible, but no one knew the pain that Jesse felt over this. In the final episode, Noah was buried, and we sadly said good-bye to all of our Young Riders.
