In the Cowboy Carter Chronicles, Digital Producer Jyesha Johnson write a weekly series, delving into the significant Black history and cultural contributions highlighted in the course on the American West.
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This past week has been monumental for Beyoncé, with Cowboy Carter not only making history but also bringing to the forefront the roots of Blackness in country music.
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It’s a striking moment, especially considering that Beyoncé, who had been nominated for Album of the Year four times before, finally took home the coveted award.
The album’s themes of perseverance and reclaiming space align with a much older story—that of Black communities establishing their own towns in the aftermath of the Civil War. Just as Cowboy Carter challenges perceptions of country music today, Black pioneers in the late 19th century fought for a place of their own in a country that often excluded them.
“This ain’t Texas
Ain’t no hold ‘em
So lay your cards down, down, down, down...”
Freedom after the Civil War was not as simple as the Emancipation Proclamation or the ratification of the 13th Amendment. For millions of formerly enslaved Black people, it was a moment of possibility—but also of immense uncertainty. What did freedom truly mean? Where could they go? How could they build lives in a country that had once denied them everything?
For many, the answer was to lay their cards down and take their future into their own hands.
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A new beginning: The formation of black towns
With the end of slavery, Black people across the South and beyond faced a harsh reality. The federal government withdrew troops in 1877, leaving them vulnerable to Black Codes and Jim Crow laws that restricted their rights. Land ownership was difficult, jobs were scarce, and racial violence was a constant threat.
But instead of waiting for acceptance, many Black communities continued to build their own towns—safe havens where they could govern themselves, own businesses, and create opportunities for future generations.
One of the earliest examples was Shankleville, Texas, founded by Jim and Winnie Shankle. Winnie and her children had been sold to a plantation owner in Texas, separating them from Jim. But Jim refused to accept this fate. He ran away, traveling over 400 miles, and eventually found Winnie standing by her owner’s spring. Instead of punishing them, the plantation owner arranged to buy Jim as well. After emancipation, the Shankles worked to purchase land, ultimately owning over 4,000 acres and establishing a thriving community with farms, churches, and schools.
Other towns, like Eatonville, Florida, became cultural landmarks. Founded in 1887, Eatonville was one of the first all-Black municipalities in the U.S. and later became the home of writer Zora Neale Hurston. Hurston often wrote about life in a black town. Their Eyes Were Watching God was one of her books that took place in Eatonville.
The struggle for true freedom
“Ain’t no hold ‘em
So lay your cards down...”
Freedom was not universally accepted. Black Codes in states like Texas restricted Black people’s rights to vote, serve on juries, and hold public office. In some places, Black landowners were driven off their property or violently attacked.
Despite these challenges, many Black pioneers continued to press forward. The Exoduster Movement of 1879 saw thousands of Black families leave the Deep South for Kansas, Oklahoma, and other Western territories, seeking better opportunities. Some hoped Oklahoma could even become a Black state. Figures like Edward P. McCabe encouraged this movement, establishing towns like Langston, Oklahoma, and pushing for Black political and economic independence.
Laying down the cards: The legacy of black towns
Stick around, ‘round, ‘round, ‘round, ‘round (stick around)
And I’ll be damned if I can’t slow dance with you
Though many Black towns thrived, not all survived. Some were destroyed by racial violence, such as Greenwood, Oklahoma—better known as Black Wall Street—burned to the ground in the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Others, like Independence Heights, Texas, were eventually absorbed into larger cities. In 1929, residents of Independence Heights voted to dissolve their incorporation and become part of Houston.
Still, the impact of these towns remains. They were symbols of what Black freedom could look like—autonomy, prosperity, and the ability to build something lasting despite systemic barriers. The struggle for full equality continued long after emancipation, but these communities laid the foundation for future generations to thrive.
Texas Hold ‘Em and the reclamation of space
Too hot to think straight (too hot to think straight)
Too cold to panic (cold to panic)
All of the problems just feel dramatic (just feel dramatic)
And now we’re runnin' to the first spot that we find, yeah
Much like the Black pioneers who built their own towns, Texas Hold ‘Em is about taking up space. Beyoncé’s success in country music, despite industry resistance, reflects a larger history of Black artists reclaiming a genre with deep Black roots.
The banjo, one of country music’s foundational instruments, originated in Africa. Call-and-response singing, another hallmark of country, is rooted in gospel and spirituals.
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By embracing country music, Cowboy Carter reclaims a space that Black musicians helped shape. It’s a continuation of the same story: the fight to exist, to thrive, and to own one’s identity, even when others say you don’t belong.
Freedom after the Civil War meant carving out space in a world that wasn’t ready to accept it. And, in many ways, that fight continues. today.
Catch up on Cowboy Carter Chronicles:
- WEEK 2: A snowy pause in our journey
