#black cowboys

In the 1800s, 1 in 4 cowboys were Black in the Old West.

The Federation of Black Cowboys 

They were formed in 1994 in Queens, NY by Virginia-native Ellis “Mountain Man” Harris (first photo), Brooklyn-native Kesha “Mama” Morse (photoed sitting atop the hay), North Carolina-native Arthur “J.R.” Fulmore (photoed holding the saddles) and some other Black Americans to promote the knowledge and heritage of the “Black West” in the East coast. 

They teach young kids the art of western horsemanship, the skills required to properly care for a horse and aim to upkeep the tradition with their descendants, as well as stories of Black American historical figures for all such as: Bill Pickett, Nat Love, Bass Reeves, and Stagecoach Mary. 

Mountain Man was inspired to form the likeminded crew after watching the first Black Rodeo in Randall’s Island, west of Harlem, in 1971. The likes of Muhammad Ali rolled through:

In 2016, with declining membership and dwindling finances, The FBC lost their long held stables and ability to host youth programs at the same capacity. The presence of Black American residents in New York, especially the 5 boroughs, drastically shifted stemming from decades prior and presently due to many being forced to uproot since then: the New Great Migration. (I always say we’re some rare breeds out here.) In spite of it all, it’s warming to know that the crew is able to continue to thrive. 

As for the photoset, most of them were captured by Paul Collins and Brad Trent.

SN: And yes that’s Beyoncé with the crew.