Black
cowboys played an indispensable role in the "Real West". Riding the
range and driving cattle to market was not easy work, or as romantic
and popular as pictured in movies and on television. In fact, it was
low paying, highly dangerous, lonely work "not fit for upper classes
of American society." Even though the Black Cowboy worked hard, proved
he was equal, and helped build the West...the era of the Black Cowboy
may be one of the most forgotten times in African-American History.
Mike Mann & the Night Riders honor the men and women who lived these
hard lives and who were, for the most part, 'forgotten' as the cowboy
myth developed.
These
are good sites on real African-Americans (Black Cowboys) in the Western
Frontier.
Coax.net/people/lwf/western.htm
"Lest We Forget": People
of Color in America's Western Frontier.
Mindstation.com/history/cowboy.html:
Black Pioneers,
Settlers, and Cowboys.
Mindstation.com/history.html#Top:
General Black History From Mindstation with links including Black
inventors, indians other black notables.
Herb
Jeffries-America's First Black Cowboy in Film: The Official Homepage
and Fan Club of the one and only black singing cowboy.
Storytellers.net
Storytellers of the American Frontier: Redemption
for American Youth through Historical and Cultural Awareness.
Storytellers.net/heritage/morebcb.htm
Storytellers
of the American Frontier: More
Black Cowboys.
History
of African-American Newspapers:
Information on the history of Black Community Newspapers.
The
Federation of Black Cowboys: African
Americans whose mission is to promote the culture, history and legacy
of America's forgotten Black Cowboys. Along with educating and exposing
our youth to an alternate lifestyle. Based in Brooklyn, NY.
Black
Cowboys: Site by Dr. Richard W. Slatta,
Professor of History, North Carolina State University.
The
Afrocentric Experience: Swagga.com
is a very good site covering many topics of interest to African-Americans
and others interested in the subjects!
Africana.com:
A general knowledge 'Black Folk' oriented
Web-Site/Portal providing information and/or links to current events
and historical topics of interest to African-Americans and interested
parties. This is a link to the education page. However, the powerful
search engine can be accessed from anywhere in the site.
.com