We’ve all seen the Hollywood version of a cowboy—rugged, white, riding off into the sunset. In fact, my earliest memories are of my grandmother watching westerns with notorious figures like John Wayne. But in my African American studies class, we’re breaking down the truth about who the original cowboys were, and Beyoncé’s Sweet ★ Honey ★ BuckiIN’ is giving us the perfect soundtrack to do it.
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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.
“We’ve come a long way from the rough ride…”
Cowboys didn’t start as the gun-slinging heroes we see in movies. The first American cowboys were enslaved Black men, forced to work with cattle and horses on Southern plantations. The term “cowboy” itself comes from the fact that enslavers often called these men “boys” rather than “men.”
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“From the railroads to the rodeos, sweet country home”
Following Reconstruction, Black cowboys played a massive role in cattle drives from Texas to railheads up north. Out of an estimated 35,000 cowboys from 1866 to 1897, nearly 9,000 were Black. They endured brutal conditions—12-16-hour workdays in the saddle, unpredictable weather, and dangers from cattle rustlers, wild animals, and outlaws. But when railroads expanded, the need for long cattle drives declined, and the cowboy lifestyle changed. Some Black cowboys took on new roles as Pullman porters, carrying messages and moving through cities on trains.
“This ain’t Calabasas, we don’t need highways, we can take back roads”
This line nods to how Black cowboys thrived on back roads, away from mainstream visibility. Though they were critical to Western expansion, they were largely erased from history books and films. Beyoncé’s visuals reflect this hidden legacy. The horse she rides was born black but turned white over time—an analogy for how cowboy culture and country music were originally Black but have since been whitewashed.
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At what point does the image of the cowboy become white?
The erasure of Black cowboys started early. Minstrel shows—performed by white men in blackface—were some of the first depictions of Black cowboys. Later, Hollywood solidified the image of the white cowboy, completely ignoring the real history of Black cattlemen, wranglers, and trailblazers.
Many performed in rodeos but were only allowed to compete before or after the main events. Others worked behind the scenes, cleaning up after white rodeo performers. Despite these barriers, they helped shape the rodeo culture we see today.
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I’m comin' home (I’m comin' home, I’m comin' home)
For Beyoncé, the cowboy story isn’t just history—it’s home. Houston, Texas, has a deep Black cowboy culture, from trail rides to rodeos. Not to mention, the one and only Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show, that the class will be attending as exhibitors. Her song isn’t just about nostalgia; it’s about reclaiming what was ours from the start.
The legacy lives on
Black cowboys faced extreme challenges—dangerous trails, racism, and low wages ($1.50 to $30 per month in the late 1800s). Yet, they were resilient. Figures like Nat Love, who wrote his own autobiography, helped keep these stories alive. Many were adopted into Indigenous tribes or found other ways to survive in a world that often erased them.
Black cowboys worked horses and cattle in a variety of roles, including:
- Wranglers
- Riders
- Ropers
- Bulldoggers
- Broncobusters
- Mustangers
- Drovers
- Foremen
- Cowpunchers
- Cattle Rustlers
- Brand Readers
- Cattlemen
- Cooks
- Trail Boss
- Singers
- Fiddlers
- Ranch Owners
Through Sweet ★ Honey ★ BuckiIN’, Beyoncé isn’t just giving us a catchy song—she’s giving us a history lesson. And in my class, we’re learning just how important it is to take back the narrative of Black cowboys and their undeniable place in American history.
Catch up on Cowboy Carter Chronicles:
- WEEK 2: A snowy pause in our journey
