My Role:
Stylist
Creative Director
Model
The Story:
This passion project from 2023 draws inspiration from spaghetti cowboy films, this passion project sheds light on an often-overlooked aspect of Western history: black cowboys. Contrary to popular portrayal, black cowboys were pioneers of the Wild West, serving as skilled horsemen, and cattle herders long before their white counterparts. Despite facing discrimination and being marginalized in historical accounts, figures like Bass Reeves exemplified their significant contributions as the first black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River.This project aims to accurately represent the stories of black cowboys, challenging stereotypes perpetuated by traditional cowboy narratives. Through thorough research and authentic portrayal, it seeks to honor their legacy and inspire a deeper appreciation for the diverse history of the American frontier. By reclaiming their rightful place in Western lore, this project aims to rewrite the narrative of the Wild West and ensure that the stories of black cowboys are remembered and celebrated for generations to come.
Project Type:
Digital Story Telling
Film Production
Photography Production
Setting The Mood Board
Delve Deeper
Black Cowboys in the 19th Century West (1850-1900)
The earliest evidence of African Americans as cattle herders (cowboys) in North America can be traced back to colonial South Carolina, where stock grazers from what is now Senegal in West Africa were specifically brought to that colony because of their unique skills. They were brought to Spanish American colonies from Mexico to Argentina for similar reasons…
Why the First US Cowboys were Black
Historians estimate that one in four cowboys were African American, though you’d never guess because the conventional Hollywood image of a cowboy is a white man. Black cowboys have been written out of history, along with the original cattle-raising Native Americans and Mexican vaqueros who taught them. So what are the real origins of cowboy culture in the US? Josh Toussaint-Strauss talks to some of the Black riders who are keeping the history of Black cowboy culture alive…
The Lesser-Known History of African-American Cowboys
In his 1907 autobiography, cowboy Nat Love recounts stories from his life on the frontier so cliché, they read like scenes from a John Wayne film. He describes Dodge City, Kansas, a town smattered with the romanticized institutions of the frontier: “a great many saloons, dance halls, and gambling houses, and very little of anything else.” He moved massive herds of cattle from one grazing area to another, drank with Billy the Kid and participated in shootouts with Native peoples defending their land on the trails. And when not, as he put it,…