Black History Month: Cowboys
Unlike the movies from Hollywood which would lead you to believe there were not many black cowboys in the days of the western frontier, there were many. At least 25% of cowboys were black and they played important parts in the settlement of the wild west. A decedent of a black cowboy said, "We didn't write the books. We didn't produce the movies. So we were politely deleted."
“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,” says William Loren Katz, a scholar of African-American history.
Even experienced and well-respected cowhands and top hands had little chance of ever being promoted to foreman of a cattle outfit. African-American cowboys faced discrimination in the towns they passed through. Blacks were barred from eating at certain restaurants or staying in certain hotels, but within their crews, they found respect and a level of equality unknown to other African-Americans of the era.
Based on Tricia Martineau Wagner, Black Cowboys of the Old West: True, Sensational, and Little-Known Stories from History
Unlike the movies from Hollywood which would lead you to believe there were not many black cowboys in the days of the western frontier, there were many. At least 25% of cowboys were black and they played important parts in the settlement of the wild west. A decedent of a black cowboy said, "We didn't write the books. We didn't produce the movies. So we were politely deleted."
“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,” says William Loren Katz, a scholar of African-American history.
Even experienced and well-respected cowhands and top hands had little chance of ever being promoted to foreman of a cattle outfit. African-American cowboys faced discrimination in the towns they passed through. Blacks were barred from eating at certain restaurants or staying in certain hotels, but within their crews, they found respect and a level of equality unknown to other African-Americans of the era.
Based on Tricia Martineau Wagner, Black Cowboys of the Old West: True, Sensational, and Little-Known Stories from History
Bill Pickett, Son of a Former Slave
Bill Pickett (1870-1932) the first cowboy to jump off a galloping horse and wrestle a running steer to the ground by hanging on the steer's horns and twisting its head and neck. A maneuver known as bulldogging that became a rodeo competition called Steer Wrestling that is part of rodeo to this day.
In 1905, Pickett joined the 101 Ranch Wild West Show that featured the likes of Buffalo Bill, Will Rogers, and Tom Mix. He performed under the name "The Dusky Demon." Pickett was soon a popular performer who toured around the world and appeared in early motion pictures
Bill Pickett (1870-1932) the first cowboy to jump off a galloping horse and wrestle a running steer to the ground by hanging on the steer's horns and twisting its head and neck. A maneuver known as bulldogging that became a rodeo competition called Steer Wrestling that is part of rodeo to this day.
In 1905, Pickett joined the 101 Ranch Wild West Show that featured the likes of Buffalo Bill, Will Rogers, and Tom Mix. He performed under the name "The Dusky Demon." Pickett was soon a popular performer who toured around the world and appeared in early motion pictures
Cowboy Humor Part-ner
What did the cowboy do when he counted his cows and found there were 97 of them instead of 100? He simply rounded them up.
A cowboy's favorite kind of car is definitely an Audi, partner!
A cowboy who has just retired is called de-ranged!
The first thing that a Cowboy learns while filling up a canteen is to go upstream from the herd!
Why are cowboys incapable of getting down from their horses? Because they can only get down from a goose!
What did the cowboy do when he counted his cows and found there were 97 of them instead of 100? He simply rounded them up.
A cowboy's favorite kind of car is definitely an Audi, partner!
A cowboy who has just retired is called de-ranged!
The first thing that a Cowboy learns while filling up a canteen is to go upstream from the herd!
Why are cowboys incapable of getting down from their horses? Because they can only get down from a goose!
