Los Angeles CA
5-26-2025 9:56pm

Black Cowboys: An American Story

Image Credit: Chanel Rhodes with her horse, Lady, 2021. Courtesy of Amanda Lopez

From the ranches of Texas to the cities of California, Black Cowboys: An American Story offers a clearer picture of the Black West and a more diverse portrait of the American frontier. 

Did you know that one of four cowboys who went on the trail was Black?

  • From the ranches of Texas to the cities of California, museum visitors will discover how Black cowboys
    • Tamed and trained horses
    • Tended livestock
    • Rode the trail with thousands of cattle across America.
    • Over time, the role of Black cowboys evolved as they used the skills they learned on the ranch and trail to
    • own and manage ranches
    • serve as lawmen
    • compete in rodeos
    • perform as entertainers.

The Autry joins the Witte Museum in celebrating the stories of Black cowboys:

  • Conceived and organized by the Witte Museum in San Antonio, Texas (wittemuseum.org). 
    • “The individual stories of Black cowboys – from histories of discrimination to legacies of excellence – illustrate the strength and persistence of the men, women and children who raised and roped cattle for generations,” said Michelle Everidge, CEO and President of the Witte Museum.
    • The Autry Museum of the American West and the Witte Museum were privileged to collaborate closely with community leaders, scholars, cowboys, and ranchers to create this exhibition.
    • While the original show focuses on Texas, The Autry’s presentation features important contributions by the 
      • Buffalo Soldiers
      • World Champion Bull Rider Charlie Sampson
      • Sharon Braxton, one of the first female African American barrel racers in the Women's Professional Rodeo Association.
  • A companion exhibition showcases the history and impact of the Black cowboy spirit in California.
  • Highlighting Hollywood’s influence on the Black cowboy image, this exhibition also includes 
    • Early film posters from Bill Pickett’s The Bull Dogger (1922) 
    • Costumes used in the 2021 Netflix film The Harder They Fall
      • “With this exhibition, the history of the most mythologized of American figures, the cowboy, gets a long overdue expansion. I am particularly excited by what the Autry has added to the Witte’s exhibition,” said Stephen Aron, Calvin and Marilyn Gross Director and President and CEO of the Autry Museum of the American West.
  • Historical and contemporary objects are presented
  • Photographs, and personal stories convey the work and spirit of Black cowboys
  • Black men and women turned their equestrian skills to popular performances in rodeo, Western film, and music. 
  • Videos created for this exhibition highlight individual Black cowfolk, past and present, who have kept these traditions alive.

 

 The exhibition is presented by Bank of America and generously supported by the John L. Santikos Charitable Fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation, H-E-B, and the Ed Rachal Foundation. 

Autry Museum of the American West
4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027-1462
Museum and Store Hours:
Tuesday–Friday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

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