Black Cowboys

According to the Smithsonian, one in four cowboys was Black.

It sure doesn’t look that way if you look at the hundreds of cowboy movies popularized in American cinema. The actual history of cowboy culture in this country is a lot more interesting — and complex — than what has been represented in popular culture.

It’s not surprising that in the era of slavery, the Wild West must have looked pretty darn good in comparison.

Needless to say, the Civil War really changed the landscape for many Black cowboys. In 1860, census reports listed 182,566 slaves living in Texas, most who worked in cotton fields but also many working herding cattle.

After the Emancipation Proclamation, many white ranchers had to hire former slaves to help herd cattle.

In his book Black West, William Loren Katz writes,

“Right after the Civil War, being a cowboy was one of the few jobs open to men of color who wanted to not serve as elevator operators or delivery boys or other similar occupations . . .”

After the Emancipation Proclamation — and before a widespread rail network was developed — was the time to be a Black cowboy, as cattle ranching spread into the Northern states.

Take that, John Wayne.