Black Cowboys (and girls)

The history of African American cowboys and their role in settling the West isn’t that much different from the history of other African American groups- it’s been largely ignored by historians and the media. The fact is that African Americans made up roughly 25% of the cowboys responsible for the movement west. There are, however, efforts to battle this ignorance. There are a number of groups around the country who celebrate the heritage of the black men and women who herded cattle, farmed, and built homesteads across the West. By photographing these people, my intention is to honor them and the history they seek to remember.