The Forgotten Legacy of Black Cowboys and Country MusicWhen you think of cowboys and country music, you might picture a white man in a hat and boots, strumming a guitar and singing about his love for the land, his horse, or his sweetheart. But this image is only a partial and distorted representation of a rich and diverse cultural heritage that has been largely erased from the mainstream narrative. In fact, black cowboys and country musicians have played a vital role in shaping the American West and its musical traditions, and their contributions deserve to be recognized and celebrated.
Black Cowboys: From Slavery to the FrontierThe history of black cowboys dates back to the colonial era, when enslaved Africans were brought to the Americas to work on plantations, farms, and ranches. Many of them learned the skills of cattle herding and horse riding from their Spanish and Native American counterparts, and some of them escaped or were freed and joined the ranks of the vaqueros (Spanish for cowboys) in Mexico and Texas. After the Civil War, many former slaves moved westward in search of freedom and opportunity, and found work as cowhands on the vast cattle ranches that sprang up in the late 1800s. Historians estimate that one in four cowboys in the 19th century was black, and they faced the same dangers and hardships as their white peers, such as stampedes, rustlers, outlaws, and hostile Indians. They also participated in the legendary cattle drives that moved millions of cattle from Texas to the railroads in Kansas, Missouri, and other states, where they could be shipped to the markets in the East.
Black cowboys were not only skilled workers, but also leaders, innovators, and entertainers. Some of them became famous for their exploits, such as Nat Love, who wrote an autobiography recounting his adventures on the frontier, including his encounters with Billy the Kid, Buffalo Bill, and Sitting Bull. Others made their mark by breaking racial barriers, such as Bill Pickett, who invented the rodeo sport of bulldogging (wrestling a steer to the ground by biting its lip) and became the first black cowboy to be inducted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame. And some of them used their talents to amuse themselves and others, such as Bass Reeves, who was a deputy U.S. marshal and a master of disguise, who sang and played the banjo to lure outlaws out of hiding.
Black Country Music: From the Banjo to the ChartsThe history of black country music is equally rich and complex, and it begins with the banjo, an instrument that originated in Africa and was brought to America by enslaved Africans. The banjo became a staple of folk music in the South, where black and white musicians shared songs and styles, influencing each other and creating a hybrid genre that would later be called country music. The banjo was also a key element of the minstrel shows that were popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries, where white performers in blackface imitated and caricatured black culture, often using songs and jokes that were originally created by black artists.
Despite the racism and discrimination that pervaded the entertainment industry, some black musicians managed to break through and gain recognition for their authentic and original contributions to country music. One of them was DeFord Bailey, who was a virtuoso harmonica player and a pioneer of the Grand Ole Opry, the longest-running radio show and the most influential platform for country music in the nation. Bailey was the first black star of the Opry, and he performed there from 1927 to 1941, earning the nickname “the harmonica wizard” for his amazing skills.
Black country musicians continued to emerge and make an impact throughout the 20th century, despite the challenges and obstacles they faced in a genre that was increasingly dominated and defined by white artists and audiences. Some of them crossed over to other genres, such as blues, jazz, rock, and soul, and influenced them with their country roots, such as Ray Charles, who recorded a landmark album called Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music in 1962, which featured his renditions of country classics such as “I Can’t Stop Loving You” and “You Don’t Know Me”. Others stayed true to their country style and achieved success and acclaim within the genre, such as Charley Pride, who was the first black superstar of country music, and the second most successful artist in the history of the RCA label, after Elvis Presley. Pride sold over 70 million records, won three Grammy Awards, and became a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Black Cowboys and Country Music Today: A Resurgence and a RecognitionIn recent years, there has been a resurgence and a recognition of the legacy of black cowboys and country musicians, thanks to the efforts of artists, activists, and scholars who have sought to reclaim and celebrate this forgotten and marginalized history. In the realm of music, artists such as Rhiannon Giddens, Valerie June, Mickey Guyton, Kane Brown, Jimmie Allen, and Lil Nas X have brought new perspectives and voices to the country genre, blending it with other influences and expanding its boundaries and audience. In the realm of film, documentaries such as The Black Cowboy, Black Rodeo, and They Rode for the Brand, and feature films such as Concrete Cowboy, The Harder They Fall, and The Magnificent Seven have portrayed the stories and experiences of black cowboys, past and present, on the big screen. And in the realm of fashion, brands such as Pyer Moss, Telfar, and Louis Vuitton have incorporated elements of black cowboy aesthetics, such as hats, boots, fringe, and denim, into their collections, creating a new wave of style and expression.
The forgotten legacy of black cowboys and country music is not only a fascinating and important part of American history, but also a source of inspiration and empowerment for the present and the future. By acknowledging and honoring the contributions of black cowboys and country musicians, we can enrich our understanding and appreciation of the diversity and complexity of the American West and its musical traditions, and we can also challenge the stereotypes and prejudices that have plagued our society for too long. As Beyoncr, a Southern-born artist with roots deep in Texas, sings in her song “Texas Hold ‘Em”, which features banjo player Rhiannon Giddens and celebrates the heritage of the black cowboy: “We’re the ones they couldn’t break / We’re the ones they couldn’t tame / We’re the ones they couldn’t change / We’re the ones who made a way”.
