HOW BOUT THEM BLACK COWBOYS

Many black cowboys were former slaves, who took their chances riding the frontier, though riskier, rather than working on farms. Black cowboys who were still slaves were treated with far more respect and dignity than their counterparts working on plantations, since by the very nature of the job, cowboys needed to be independent, trustworthy, and once in the ranks, all cowboys, regardless of race or ethnicity, lived by the “Cowboy Code” of taking responsibility, working as a team, protecting each other in harrowing circumstances. It didn’t matter the color of the hand that reached out to save your life.