Black Cowboys: the Unsung Riders of the American West

North America’s “Wild West” has long captivated imaginations worldwide, with a mere mention invoking vivid mental imagery. Such visuals may include wagon trains braving deserts and prairies while clashing with hostile Indigenous tribes, or raucous saloons in lawless frontier towns erupting into brawls at the drop of a hat. There are also wily bandits hiding behind every cactus, waiting to hold up a bank, train, or stagecoach, as valiant but outnumbered lawmen struggle to reign them in. Probably most often, though, we envision the iconic sight of cowboys in wide-brimmed hats driving their herds over countless miles of undeveloped terrain. After all, there is no “Wild West” without the intrepid cowboys there to tame it.

Most of us grew familiar with this colorful mosaic of tropes through the abundant body of Western literature and film. However, despite the vivid scenes of lawlessness and heroism, many of these depictions are pure fiction. The stigma of lawlessness and untamed land did indeed spring from kernels of truth, but such instances were noteworthy because they were the exceptions, not the rule. Most frontier towns were peaceful, functional communities. Outlaws were no more common back then than they are today.  Native Americans would usually sooner trade than raid. And, finally, the cowboys we see on screen rarely reflect the variety of faces present in the real West. With contemporary Westerns like Yellowstone, Westworld, and Horizon: An American Saga, bringing the genre back into the spotlight, it’s crucial to examine how it has portrayed—and often overlooked—the true diversity that truly defined the era.

In reality, the West of the late 18th century was far more diverse than the fiction suggests, with African American cowboys playing a significant, yet often overlooked, role in its history. Black cowboys were not just present—they were a common and essential part of the frontier, with many becoming legendary figures in their own right. As recent scholarship brings these stories to light, it’s time to recognize the real faces behind the Western lore that has shaped our cultural imagination.

Heading West: The Origin of Black Cattlemen

The Columbian Exchange brought both beasts and men to American shores long before the United States was even a concept. Ancestors of Black Cowboys and the cattle they would eventually drive arrived from Africa as early as the 1600s. As most know, the vast majority of African people were brought by European colonizers very much against their will. Fortunately, this did not last.

The Slave Trade ended in North America in 1808, and slavery itself was finally abolished in 1863 with the Emancipation Proclamation. Emancipation became the law of the land after the U.S. Civil War in 1864 with the passage of the 13th Amendment, and finally reached everyone by June 1865. Texas, a state in which a third of the population was enslaved, was the last to begin enforcement.

Newly freed African Americans could finally begin to forge their destiny. Many of Texas’ freshly liberated individuals began to put the skills they learned in servitude to work for wages locally. Others struck out, hoping to find greener pastures in developing western states and territories like Kansas. Emancipated people also spread westward from southern states, just in time for the Cattle Boom of the 1870s-1880s.

With the Civil War over and railroads gradually crisscrossing the developing Western lands, American appetites shifted from pork to beef. Texas had been rich land for cattle ranching as far back as when it was part of Mexico. Therefore, cattle ranching became a big business in established Texas pastures before quickly moving northward. Soon, ranches sprung up all over the West.

Although railroads were instrumental in this development, there were initially very few. This situation provided a significant challenge to get the cattle from southwestern ranches northward to the markets of midwestern towns along the rails. Long drives of large herds across hundreds of miles of undeveloped prairie were the only way to achieve this ambitious goal.

Ranchers urgently needed men proficient with horses and cattle. Newly freed African Americans were in an excellent position to answer this call. Black Cowboys also brought additional pastoral skills learned before emancipation. What they did not know in their former life, they were quick to pick up from Native Americans or Vaqueros (Hispanic cowboys). Historical records show that at least 1 in 4 (25%) of cowboys were black, although some speculate that the number may have been much higher than official documents show.

Life on the Trail

African Americans had much to offer on the Range and contributed significantly to the cowboy image that resulted there. Even the name “Cowboy” has distinctly African American roots. In southern states, “boy” was historically used to denigrate black men, regardless of their age. As southern culture drifted westward, so did the insult. As such, “Cowboy” was initially used to single black men out from their white counterparts, who were referred to by the more dignified “Cowhand.” And yet, though once used as a pejorative, this term soon became widely associated with ruggedness and heroism. This is likely because a “Cowboy” was usually far more skilled, competent, and resilient than most others.

Extraordinary individuals like Bose Ikard soon changed the “Cowboy” connotation. Born in Mississippi in 1843, Ikard went to work for prominent cattle rancher Charles Goodnight. A trusty and skilled cowherder, Ikhard gained a reputation for his bravery, loyalty, and talent. He also pioneered the “Goodnight-Loving Trail,” which became a crucial route for cattle drives. After he died in 1929, Goodnight honored Ikhard with a granite marker at his grave, a testament to Ikard’s legacy and the deep respect he earned on the frontier. Ikard also inspired the character Josh Deets in Larry McMurtry’s beloved novel Lonesome Dove.

More was usually expected from Black Cowboys, and for good reason. The black members of the trail crew usually hunted and cooked for their comrades out on the Range. These trail cooks had more than cans of beans at their disposal because they knew where to look and how to make the most out of little. Accustomed to working with less-than-desirable cuts of meat, Black Cowboys were the originators of “Cowboy Stew” (aka “Son of a Gun Stew”), which utilizes normally-discarded organs of cattle (or antelope) like kidneys, marrow, and the heart. Also noteworthy was the use of Ox Tail. After finding a place on many chuck wagon menus, Ox Tail competes with steak in price and prestige in parts of the modern United States.

After dinner, Black Cowboys frequently entertained their companions with songs and stories. African American contributions to country music are well documented, with cowboy songs holding a significant place. One ballad that can be traced to Black Cowboy songsters is “Home on the Range.” This tune has appeared in many Westerns, with lyrics (or at least a chorus) familiar to many.

Home, home on the Range;

Where the deer and the antelope play;

Where seldom is heard, a discouraging word,

And the skies are not cloudy all day.

These words take on new meaning when considering the egalitarianism Black Cowboys experienced on the trail. Segregation and racism were sure to be found in the towns, but camaraderie was the norm out on the trail. Threats presented by an inhospitable climate, cattle rustlers, and occasional groups of hostile Native Americans required cooperation for survival. In life-or-death situations, it seems skin color proved unimportant.

Nat Love (aka “Deadwood Dick”) exemplifies this persona. Born in Tennessee in 1854, Love moved westward as a young man, becoming an expert cowboy, marksman, and rodeo performer. Love’s reputation grew as he worked on numerous cattle drives. His contemporaries recognized him for his brave conduct during encounters with hostile Native Americans. He also triumphed in a roping contest in the infamous Deadwood, South Dakota town, gaining him wide renown. Love was a literate man who was able to pen an autobiography. The Life and Adventures of Nat Love'” (1907) solidified Love’s legacy and provided a vivid account of an adventurous life on the frontier.

Frontier Justice: Peacekeepers, Outlaws, & Antiheroes

Outlaws hold a significant place in Western lore. Sometimes, they appear outrightly cruel. Other times, their gray morality illuminates the flaws in the justice system they rebel against. One such figure is Isom Dart. Born in Arkansas in 1849, Dart worked as a camp cook, rodeo clown, and cowboy. He soon became known for his bronco busting, marksmanship, and cattle driving skills. Historians debate the facts of what came next, but the lore holds that Dart turned to crime, possibly feeling slighted by an unfair legal system. Dart allegedly became involved in cattle rustling under the alias “Ned Huddleston.” Despite these lawless endeavors, Dart was always best known for his charm and resourcefulness. While many details of Dart’s life may be fictional, his contribution to Western folklore is undeniable.

Equally crucial to the lawless mystique of the Wild West are the resilient law enforcement officers who hold the thin blue line between order and chaos. Bass Reeves is one whom many are familiar with without realizing it, as he provided real-life inspiration for the iconic Lone Ranger. Born in Arkansas in 1838, Reeves settled in Indian Territory (Oklahoma) for a time after the Civil War. He eventually entered the U.S. Marshals to become the first black deputy west of the Mississippi River. Reeves served with distinction for over three decades, arresting over 3,000 criminals. He was also known for clever disguises and his uncanny ability to navigate the lesser-known regions of the frontier.

Johana July also deserves a mention for making the “Wild West” more secure. Born in Texas, July became a member of the Black Seminole community, a group of formerly enslaved people who joined the Seminole Indians. July developed her method of taming horses, where she would lead horses into the waters of the Rio Grande and swim alongside them. July soon became well-known for her equestrian talent, managing and training horses for prominent ranchers in Texas and Mexico. In the 1870s, the U.S. Army soon heard of July and approached her to train their cavalry horses, which she did.

A New Era: Circuses, Movies, and Rodeos

By the 1890s, the rapid expansion of railroads facilitated more efficient transportation of goods and livestock. Competition from cattle industries in Argentina and Canada also contributed to the end of America’s cattle boom, marking the end of an era. All this led to the decline of the long cattle drives central to the cowboy way of life.

Even so, a cultural fascination with the “Wild West” immediately surged in the United States. The brief but exciting period became romanticized in the American imagination. The allure of the rugged cowboy life, dramatic showdowns, and untamed landscapes captured the public’s interest. A new entertainment industry was born with traveling western-themed circuses. Many cowboys found new opportunities in sensational Wild West shows, epitomized by “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West.” These traveling circuses provided a stage for cowboys to showcase their skills and entertain audiences nationwide.

In much the same way that Black Cowboys helped shape the actual West, Westy would now also help to craft the mythos. Bill Pickett was perhaps the most well-known African American participant in these shows. Pickett is best remembered for inventing a technique known as “bulldogging,” in which a rider on horseback leaps from the saddle and wrestles a steer to the ground with its horns.

The fascination with the Wild West extended into the burgeoning film industry of the 20th century. Western movies became a staple of early Hollywood, portraying dramatized versions of cowboy life and frontier adventures. America’s racial politics sadly omitted Black Cowboys from mainstream portrayals for many decades, but skilled cowboys, including many of African American descent, worked as stuntmen and consultants behind the scenes.

African American representation in Westerns was rare at the beginning, but the genre gradually began to include more Black faces as the culture, and therefore the art progressed. Some classic African-American led westerns include Sergeant Rutledge (1960), Buck And The Preacher (1972) Thomasine & Bushrod (1974), Take A Hard Ride (1975). Posse (1993), and Buffalo Soldiers (1997). More recently the trend of Black leads in Westerns has become even more common with Django Unchained (2012) , The Harder They Fall (2021), and Surrounded (2023). Contemporary westerns such as Deadwood (2004-2006), Hell On The Border (2019), and The Hateful Eight (2015) have also started utilizing a more diverse ensemble cast to better represent the presence of African-American cowboys in the actual history.

Riding hard into the future

Today, rodeo competitions all over North America are the prime arena in which the skills and spirit of the cowboy endure. Bill Pickett himself became the namesake for the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (est. 1984). Bulldogging also became a competitive event that is now a staple at rodeos. Black rodeo stars such as Cleo Hearn also helped form this cultural phenomenon. Born in 1939 in Seminole, Oklahoma, to an African American mother and a Seminole father, Hearn began riding and roping at age 16. He was the first African American to win the calf roping at a significant rodeo when he won at the Denver National Western Stock Show & Rodeo in 1970. Hearn was also the first African American to attend college on a rodeo scholarship. Hearn founded the Cowboys of Color Rodeo in 1971, and he still rides today despite his advanced age.

Tex Williams is another Black Cowboy of note in the rodeo scene. Willaim’s impressive roping and riding abilities made him the first African American to win the Texas State High School Finals in 1967. William’s cousin, Larry Callies, also rode and roped competitively before striking out in a career as a talented Country Singer. After Callies tragically lost his voice, he took it in stride and got right back on the horse. Callies founded the Black Cowboy Museum in Rosenburg, Texas, which keeps the history of Black Cowboys alive and well.

Today, elders like Williams, Callies and many others are more than ready to teach future generations the cowboy wat that they love so dearly. Many other African Americans of all ages also continue to train horses and wrangle cattle, although most tend to prefer the term “equestrians” over “cowboy.” Whatever one calls them, though,  the Black Cowboy ethos seems poised to stick around for a long time, and won’t be riding off into the sunset anytime soon.