When we think of the Wild West, Hollywood would have us believe it was all white cowboys, saloon brawls, and dusty duels at high noon. But the real story?
It’s a lot more diverse—especially when it comes to Black women. These women weren’t just sitting at home waiting for their men to return from the trail. They were sharpshooters, entrepreneurs, soldiers, and sometimes even outlaws. They protected their families, ran businesses, and made sure their voices (and bullets) were heard.
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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.
To explore what life was like for these women in the American West during slavery and emancipation, we’re turning to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, specifically the songs Jolene and Daughter. These tracks capture themes of protection, generational trauma, and the fight for survival—things Black women on the frontier knew all too well.
The frontier wasn’t just for men
“If you were a young Black girl in Texas in the 1800s, usually your father would train you on how to shoot,” Dr. Alicia Odewale told her UH African American studies class.
Black women in the West weren’t just homemakers; they were protectors. Many of their fathers were absent—either working on railroads, driving cattle, or even riding with outlaws. That meant these women had to learn early how to fend for themselves. And in the West, that often meant carrying a firearm.
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In Cowboy Carter’s DAUGHTER, you can hear the influence of her father although the song doesn’t talk about him being physically there.
“They keep sayin' that I ain’t nothin' like my father
But I’m the furthest thing from choir boys and altars
If you cross me, I’m just like my father
I am colder than Titanic water"
Unlike their counterparts in the East, Black women in the Midwest and frontier states had a bit more freedom. Some were able to own land, run businesses, and in rare cases, become wealthy.
Bridget “Biddy” Mason, born into slavery in Mississippi, made her way to California, gained her freedom in a landmark court case, and built a real estate empire in Los Angeles, becoming one of the wealthiest women of her time. Meanwhile, Mary Fields, better known as Stagecoach Mary, became the first Black woman to work as a U.S. mail carrier, braving harsh terrain and bandits—often with a shotgun in hand.
From homemakers to outlaws
Black women in the West wore many hats—literally and figuratively. Some were stay-at-home mothers, but even that role came with the responsibility of protecting life and liberty. Others worked as cooks, laundresses, maids, and even mail-order brides. But some stepped completely outside traditional roles, taking on work as teachers, nurses, landowners, and even outlaws.
Cathay Williams disguised herself as a man to serve as a Buffalo Soldier, making her the first and only recorded Black woman to do so. She enlisted under the name William Cathay and served in the military for two years before being discovered and discharged.
Other Black women found success in the food industry, like Mrs. Abby Fisher, who wrote one of the earliest known cookbooks by an African American, What Mrs. Fisher Knows About Old Southern Cooking (1881), preserving Southern Black culinary traditions.
Black-owned saloons flourished in places like Nevada in the 1860s and 1870s, catering to Black cowboys, miners, and railroad workers. Archaeological evidence from one such saloon showed that Black business owners imported fine glassware, bottles of ginger beer from Jamaica, and even hot sauce—demonstrating that Black enterprise thrived despite systemic racism. Some women also found themselves entangled in underground economies, running brothels or working in the sex trade as one of the few options for financial independence.
The reality of western life for black women
Life in the West wasn’t just about survival—it was about thriving. While white historians have often glossed over their contributions, Black women played a major role in shaping frontier towns. Whether they were running underground saloons, fighting against land seizure, or simply keeping their families safe, they were active participants in the American West’s development.
“I sashayed my dress
Did my best impression of a damsel in distress
This alcohol and smell of regret”
They faced dangers from every direction—racism, violence, and the constant uncertainty of life on the frontier. Many Black women were forced into labor or sex work due to limited opportunities, while others became activists, helping enslaved people escape via the Underground Railroad or resisting racial segregation in emerging Western towns. Some even became millionaires, such as Sarah Breedlove, later known as Madam C.J. Walker, who built a beauty empire that laid the foundation for Black women’s economic independence in the early 20th century.
The legacy lives on
Black women in the West weren’t just background characters; they were central to the story. Their resilience, resourcefulness, and fight for autonomy shaped towns, businesses, and even the culture of the Wild West itself. Films like The Harder They Fall are finally starting to highlight some of these figures, but their stories have been here all along.
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So, what’s your cowboy (or cowgirl) name? If you had to survive in the Wild West, would you be a sharpshooter like Stagecoach Mary, an entrepreneur like Biddy Mason, or maybe an outlaw with a cause? Either way, one thing’s for sure—Black women have always been a force to be reckoned with in the West, and their legacy is still rolling on like tumblin’ weeds.
Catch up on Cowboy Carter Chronicles:
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