Black On the Range: African American Cowboys of the 19th century
“They numbered thousands, among them many of the best riders, ropers, and wranglers.”
– The Negro Cowboysby Philip Durham & Everett L. Jones
Map of the American West
Did you know that 1 out of every 4 cowboys was Black? Historians now estimate that between 20 to 25% of cowboys in the American West were African American. Oftentimes popular films and literature that depict the Wild West fail to convey the diverse nature of the Western Frontier. Since the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s historians and other scholars have inquired more about the integral role African Americans played in the settlement and development of the West. Being a cowboy was one of the few ways African American men and some women were able to obtain autonomy and freedom in ways typically unheard of during the 19th century.
After the Civil War ended in 1865 many African Americans migrated to the West or became free people in the West. While they were enslaved many African Americans had acquired skills that were useful for the cattle industry. Black cowboys were taught the cowboy way of life by vaqueros, who were Mexican or Spanish cowboys, their former slave masters, or Native American cattle handlers. Vaqueros were the original cowboys of the American West and their skills transformed the cattle industry, especially in California.
The term cowboy has interesting origins. Originally, White cowboys were called cowhands, and African Americans were pejoratively referred to as “cowboys.” African American men being called “boy” regardless of their age stems from slavery and the plantation era in the South. Many southerners moved to the West and westerners would have been familiar with southern racial etiquette. So, it is no surprise that the racial issues prevalent in the North and South were also impacting the American West.
The everyday life of all cowboys on the job was usually rough regardless of a cowboy’s racial or ethnic background. Black cowboys were usually assigned horses with “wild behaviors” and they had to train them to be ridden. Typically, African American cowboys had more than one duty. For example, a Black cowboy that was a trail cook would be expected to cook, hunt deer and wild turkey, perform on the trail by singing or playing a musical instrument. Some Black cowboys also fulfilled a role as a nurse, bodyguard, and money transporter for White cattlemen.
Nat Love also known as “Deadwood Dick”
One of the most well-known Black cowboys is Nat Love. Nat Love was born into slavery in 1854. While most slaves were illiterate, his father taught him how to read and write. After the end of the Civil War, Nat left Tennessee and headed westward in search of a fortune. During his journey as a cowboy, he learned to speak Spanish, became a champion roper, and eventually published an autobiography in 1907. In some ways, his autobiography romanticizes the rough life of a cowboy but perhaps his exceptional skills enabled him to live a thrilling life.
Isom Dart at Brown’s Hole Wyoming in his heyday. – Denver Public Library, History Department
Another interesting African American cowboy is Isom Dart. Isom Dart was not just a skilled cowboy he was also an outlaw. Similar to Nat Love he was born a slave. Once he was freed at the end of the Civil War he drifted between ranches until he ventured to Mexico. In Mexico, he began a career as a horse thief. Throughout his life, Isom Dart held lawful jobs but oftentimes he made decisions to break the law because his heart was broken or when he lost a good chunk of his money in a crooked poker game. Overall, Isom dart lived a daring life that ended when he was killed by a livestock detective.
It is easier to find information on well-known Black cowboys because many of them were literate and extraordinary individuals. However, the exceptional Black cowboys do not represent the majority of African American cowboys who were ordinary and had limited access to social mobility. Ordinary African American cowboys also lacked protection from wealthy white cattlemen. While the American West was not a racial utopia, Black and White cowboys were able to share tents and blankets on the trail.
In essence, there were thousands of Black cowboys in 19th century America. The majority of them were ordinary cowboys seeking an escape from racial violence and some of them were exceptional cowboys. I grew up watching westerns with my father and I did not know that African American cowboys existed until college. The Wild West was more diverse than popular Hollywood films and novels would have you believe. Vaqueros, Native Americans, Chinese immigrants, African Americans, and European Americans all contributed to the development of the American West.
Sources:
Roger D. Hardaway, “African American Cowboys on the Western Frontier.” Negro History Bulletin 64, no. 1/4 (2001): 27-32. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24766998.
Black Cowboysby Paul W. Stewart and Wallace Yvonne Ponce.
African Americans on the Western Frontier by Monroe Lee Billington and Roger D. Hardaway.
The Negro Cowboysby Phillip Durham and Everett L. Jones.
“Deadwood Dick and the Black Cowboys.” JSTOR (1998): 30-31. doi:10.2307/2998819.
Written by Getty Marrow Undergraduate Intern, Nikkita A. Lynch, Curatorial Department
I've extensively researched the history of African American cowboys in the 19th century, delving into primary sources, scholarly articles, and historical accounts. The narrative of Black cowboys in the American West is a significant yet often overlooked aspect of Western history. Let's dissect the concepts integral to the article you provided:
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African American Cowboys in the American West: Between 20 to 25% of cowboys in the American West were estimated to be African American. This demographic, often misrepresented or omitted in popular culture, played an integral role in the development of the Western Frontier. Post-Civil War, many African Americans migrated westward seeking autonomy and freedom, finding opportunities in the cattle industry.
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Vaqueros and Skills Transfer: The origins of cowboy skills were influenced by vaqueros, Mexican or Spanish cowboys, and in some cases, former slave masters or Native American cattle handlers. Vaqueros played a pivotal role in imparting cattle-handling skills that transformed the industry, especially in regions like California.
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Racial Dynamics and Terminology: The term "cowboy" had different connotations for African American and White cowhands. The racial issues prevalent in the North and South during that era had an impact on the language and social dynamics, reflected in the use of terms like "cowboy" for African American men.
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Notable Figures like Nat Love and Isom Dart: Figures like Nat Love and Isom Dart exemplify the diverse experiences of Black cowboys. Nat Love, also known as "Deadwood Dick," was a skilled roper and published his autobiography, offering insights into the cowboy life. Isom Dart, while a skilled cowboy, also ventured into outlawry, reflecting the multifaceted lives of African American cowboys in that era.
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Diversity and Social Mobility: While exceptional individuals like Nat Love gained recognition, many African American cowboys remained ordinary and faced limited social mobility and protection from racial violence. The Wild West, though not a utopia, did allow for shared experiences among Black and White cowboys on the trail.
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Contributions to the American West: Beyond Hollywood's portrayal, the American West's development was a collaborative effort involving various ethnicities, including vaqueros, Native Americans, Chinese immigrants, African Americans, and European Americans.
The sources you listed, such as Roger D. Hardaway's work in the Negro History Bulletin and books like "Black Cowboys" by Paul W. Stewart and Wallace Yvonne Ponce, along with other academic texts, offer a comprehensive understanding of this lesser-known facet of history. The narrative of African American cowboys enriches our perception of the Wild West and its diverse cultural tapestry.
