Snopes.com - The inspiration for the Lone Ranger, "Person of the Year," and Africa's Great Green Wall

​ MONDAY EDITION Snopes Debunker Nov. 29, 2021 Tonight: The inspiration for the Lone Ranger, "Person of the Year," and Africa's Great Green Wall ​ Was this Black Cowboy the Inspiration for the Lone Ranger? Everyone knows the Lone Ranger as the fictional masked man who fought outlaws in the old American West with his Native American sidekick, Tonto. Wearing a black mask, and frequently atop his iconic horse, Silver, the Ranger character was first introduced in a 1933 radio series, followed by numerous television and film iterations. But what inspired the character in the first place? Nur Ibrahim reports. Read More Can You Help Us Out? We rely on support from readers like you. Support Now Fact Checks and Original Reporting Did Morgan Vague Lose to Greta Thunberg For ‘Person of the Year’? Can you lose something you were never nominated for? Read Story. Is Audio of the Ghislaine Maxwell Trial Available by Phone? A phone number and access code were widely shared in late 2021. Read Story. Are African Countries Planting Giant Wall of Trees To Stop Sahara Desert’s Spread? The Great Green Wall is an ambitious effort to tackle climate change. Read Story. View Latest Fact Checks Entertainment Rumors, legends, and lore about Hollywood, the entertainment industry, and its many stars. Read More News Twitter Co-Founder Jack Dorsey Steps Down As CEO He has been succeeded by Twitter's current chief technology officer, Parag Agrawal. Read More Lee Elder, 1st Black Golfer to Play Masters, Dies at Age 87 Elder broke down racial barriers as the first Black golfer to play in the Masters and paved the way for Tiger Woods and others to follow. Read More Lock In: Dozens Stuck in England’s Highest Pub After Storm Dozens of customers who stopped for a drink at Britain’s highest altitude pub got a longer stay than they bargained for, after the building was cut off by a blizzard. Read More

View Latest News Staff Pick ​ Is This Eazy-E with Betty White? A composite image is made up of two or more photographs. Read More View Editor's Picks