Ny`sean, Black Cowboy Festival, South Carolina
Black Cowboys
To this day the romanticised figure of the white cowboy shapes the image of the “Wild West”. Yet, this stereotype had little to do with reality. A quarter of the cowboys were African-Americans who played a decisive role in influencing this legendary period of American history. Many were former slaves who later became mounted cowhands or wranglers. However, Hollywood has created a myth that consisted invariably of white heroes. Numerous white “Western heroes” were moulded after African-American cowboys basically erasing their contribution to American history. As a result of this “whitewashing”, hardly anyone today knows of the existence of Black Cowboys.
In recent years, a black community has emerged in the USA calling themselves Black Cowboys. They strive for recognition as a part of American history. The modern Black Cowboys hold horses, try to keep the memory alive, but also see themselves as street workers and want to get young black people interested in riding and their own culture. They live in cities like Los Angeles, Atlanta, Charlotte and Chicago. Others run farms and train hard to participate in rodeos.
We set out and followed the trail of the Black Cowboys. We wanted to capture their heritage and observe its transition into today‘s world; with an additional focus on the role of women and girls in that community. We also documented towns and the land where Black Cowboys worked at the time of the great cattle drives. The “Great Western Trails” led from the south of Texas to Kansas. To this day, numerous murals and saloons recall the time of the Great Western Trails.
The project “Black Cowboys” was supported by Stiftung Kulturwerk der VG Bild-Kunst.
We would like to say a big thank you to all Black Cowboys and Cowgirls we had met and we could photograph and interview for this project.
Black Cowboys
To this day the romanticised figure of the white cowboy shapes the image of the “Wild West”. Yet, this stereotype had little to do with reality. A quarter of the cowboys were African-Americans who played a decisive role in influencing this legendary period of American history. Many were former slaves who later became mounted cowhands or wranglers. However, Hollywood has created a myth that consisted invariably of white heroes. Numerous white “Western heroes” were moulded after African-American cowboys basically erasing their contribution to American history. As a result of this “whitewashing”, hardly anyone today knows of the existence of Black Cowboys.
In recent years, a black community has emerged in the USA calling themselves Black Cowboys. They strive for recognition as a part of American history. The modern Black Cowboys hold horses, try to keep the memory alive, but also see themselves as street workers and want to get young black people interested in riding and their own culture. They live in cities like Los Angeles, Atlanta, Charlotte and Chicago. Others run farms and train hard to participate in rodeos.
We set out and followed the trail of the Black Cowboys. We wanted to capture their heritage and observe its transition into today‘s world; with an additional focus on the role of women and girls in that community. We also documented towns and the land where Black Cowboys worked at the time of the great cattle drives. The “Great Western Trails” led from the south of Texas to Kansas. To this day, numerous murals and saloons recall the time of the Great Western Trails.
The project “Black Cowboys” was supported by Stiftung Kulturwerk der VG Bild-Kunst.
We would like to say a big thank you to all Black Cowboys and Cowgirls we had met and we could photograph and interview for this project.
Love Valley, Sisters With Horses Trail Ride & Rodeo, North Carolina
Nayla, Them Cowgirls, Black Cowboy Festival, South Carolina
Keisha, Atlanta Saddle Club Association, Georgia
Trail Ride, North Carolina
Love Valley, Sisters With Horses Trail Ride & Rodeo, North Carolina
Black Cowboys
Galerie 4 – galerie fotografie
Cheb, Czech Republic
Exhibition
26. April–21. Juni 2024
Love Valley, Sisters With Horses Trail Ride & Rodeo, North Carolina
Jadon a.k.a. JD and Jahon, Atlanta Saddle Club Association, Georgia
Atlanta Saddle Club Association, Georgia
Black Cowboys, Städtische Galerie Iserlohn, 2023
Jackson Rodeo Crew, Maryland
Dylan, Jackson Rodeo Crew, Maryland
Reagan, Jackson Rodeo Crew, Maryland
Nicholas, Jackson Rodeo Crew, Maryland
Ryan, Jackson Rodeo Crew, Maryland
Jackson Rodeo Crew, Maryland
Buckles, Jackson Rodeo Crew, Maryland
Longhorn, South Carolina
Love Valley, Sisters With Horses Trail Ride & Rodeo, North Carolina
Angie Simmons and Toshia, Sisters With Horses, Love Valley, North Carolina
Love Valley, Sisters With Horses Trail Ride & Rodeo, North Carolina
Love Valley, Sisters With Horses Trail Ride & Rodeo, North Carolina
Love Valley, Sisters With Horses Trail Ride & Rodeo, North Carolina
Matt, Trail Ride, North Carolina
Trail Ride, North Carolina
Love Valley, Sisters With Horses Trail Ride & Rodeo, North Carolina
Trail Ride, North Carolina
Gregg, Charlotte Cowboys, North Carolina
Murdock, „The man with no first name“, The Broken Arrow Horseback Riding Club, Chicago
Gideon, The Broken Arrow Horseback Riding Club, Chicago
Aaron Baxter, professional bull rider, Chicago
Trailer, South Carolina
Mark Myers, Greenfield Farm, Black Cowboy Festival, South Carolina
Alicia, Them Cowgirls, Black Cowboy Festival, South Carolina
Cowgirl Chanel, Los Angeles, California
Deja, Atlanta Saddle Club Association, Georgia
Atlanta Saddle Club Association, Georgia
DaJon, Black Cowboy Festival, South Carolina
Larry Callies, Black Cowboy Museum, Rosenberg, Texas
Black Cowboy Mural by Dare Coulter, North Carolina
Black Cowboy Festival, South Carolina