DANIEL MCCLOUD
As a kid growing up, I loved to watch Western movies, or as we called them, “cowboy movies.”
These films starred John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Burt Lancaster, etc. Occasionally, a movie or television show had a Black character. And over time, a few featured a cameo by a prominent African American. I remember Lou Rawls as Josh, a formerly enslaved cowhand on the run from the law, in an episode of “The Big Valley.” Eventually, films such as “Buck and the Preacher” would be starring Harry Belafonte and Sydney Poitier and “100 Rifles” with Jim Brown. And Woody Strode was well now for his role in several Westerns, including “The Professionals” and “Once Upon a Time in the West.”
As I thought about those films and as America grapples with the interpretation of its history, particularly as it relates to the African-American experience, I began to consider African Americans’ role as cowboys in settling the American West. It should be noted that there is evidence of African Americans as cowboys during the colonial period of South Carolina, long before the migration west. History tells us that enslaved Africans from Senegal, West Africa, were brought to South Carolina for their specific cattle herding skills.
Following the end of the Civil War, many saw the lure of the West as an opportunity for settlement and economic development. Most of these settlers were White; however, formerly enslaved Blacks also felt the calling of the West, seeking to put a great distance between themselves and the post-Civil War South.
Initially, the Native Americans and the bison were considered the symbols of the West. However, as settlements grew, the bison population was drastically reduced, and the Native American population was decimated. By the 1880s, most Native Americans were confined to reservations. As a result, by the late 19th century, the cowboy would become the symbol of the new West. Throughout history, the cowboy has been depicted as a White, somewhat glamorous, heroic figure. However, there is evidence that the first cowboys were Spanish vaqueros, who had introduced cattle to Mexico.
After the Civil War, being a cowboy was one of the few jobs available to Black men, other than domestic work and other forms of employment in environments that lent itself to being degraded. Bill Pickett and Bass Reeves are two of the most recognized Black cowboys. William Pickett, born Dec. 5, 1870, is the originator of rodeo steer wrestling, or bull-dogging. He would enter his first rodeo in 1888, and by the early 1900s, Pickett was a well-known rodeo performer, joining the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch Wild West Show. Pickett would go on to perform in motion pictures and is credited with being the first Black cowboy star, appearing in “Crimson Skull” (1921) and the “Bull-Dogger” (1922).
Bass Reeves was born to slave parents in 1838 and would become the first Black U.S. Deputy Marshall west of the Mississippi River. Over 35 years, Reeves is estimated to have brought in more than 3,000 criminals. In addition, many claim that Reeves was the inspiration for the character of the Lone Ranger. Many say that Reeves often handed out silver coins and had a Native American companion, similar to the Lone Ranger’s silver bullets and his Native American companion, Tonto.
Although this claim has never been verified, it does speak to the fact that art can often imitate life. We can learn more about Reeves in the upcoming film “Lawman: Bass Reeves,” starring David Oyelowo as Reeves, scheduled to be released later this year. Other notable African-American cowboys included Daniel Wallace, the inventor of the cattle brand, Pete Staples, Bose Ikard, Bill Perry, Nat Love, and John Ware. I encourage you to research these individuals to learn about the entire American experience in shaping this country. Learning of America’s history shouldn’t be frightening, despite the frightening events that may be revealed. There are lessons in every experience, and we can all be better by acknowledging that the truth exists despite the pain, guilt, anger, or regret that may come from learning of it.