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Black Cowboys Rode “Tall in the Saddle”
“Buffalo Soldier dred loc
rosta, It was a Buffalo Soldier in the heart of America stolen from Africa
brought to America, fighting an rival, fighting for survival” is how the
late Bob Marley put it as he analyzed the Black cowboys that made history.
But from a white analytic side or the encyclopedia definition a Buffalo
Soldier was a name given to the African American U.S. Army regiments
commissioned by congress to patrol the American West after the civil war.
They consisted of two infantry and two cavalry regiments, which they were
the first units to go during peace time. Buffalo Soldiers formed one fifth
of the Army’s forces in the west, serving as guards for pioneer wagon trains
and helped the western towns. They fought in the American War and in World
War II. The Soldiers continued until the U.S. armed forces integrated in
1952. Very unsung like a bad record until, they were put on a pedestal in a
1994 Bronze Monument at Fort Leavenworth Kansas.
How ironic that you have an all Black regiment that was involved in the wars
of the world and helped developed the towns and villages of the west. It
took almost to the 20th Century for them to be really honored and recognized
for the history they made during that time.
Being what is said is true you would already know that its a given that our
Black cowboy’s are not or has not been recognized for the contributions that
they’ve done for the Rodeo world or just the word Cowboy itself.
After the Civil War and after the physical part of slavery into the mental
part of slavery alot of ex slaves went on to live the life of a cowboy. John
Ware (1845-1905) was an ex Texas slave that drove cattle for the Northwest
Company. John kept on driving cattle for them until he developed himself and
started his own cattle operation on his own ranch. Just like those good old
boys (white cowboys) he ran the same type of operation, but better. Bose
Ikard (1834-1929) was another ex slave that learned the cowboy life and made
a good living.
Not all cowboys from those days were ex slave. Some were already free,
because of their parents, some came form different states, and some cowboys
just sort of appeared out of know where.
In the 1800’s and so on, being a cowboy was more important than anything,
cause they provided a service that only certain people could provide. And
for the Negroes who were well qualified as riders, ropers, and cooks they
benefited from their skills and most of all made history.
Bill Pickett from Taylor, Tx. (1870-1932) is the first Black cowboy movie
star and the one who invented the popular competition steer wrestling,
that’s being competed in every rodeo. With him participating in the first
ever rodeo and inventing that competition it opened the doors for alot more
cowboys to participate in rodeos.
Jesse Stahl was just one of the many rodeo riders back in those days that
made white cowboys sick. He was so cold with bull riding he rode his second
bull facing backwards with a suit case in his hand just to show those white
judges that he deserved 1st place when they gave him second place because of
he was a Black bull rider.
Despite the nigger calling, lynching, and just hard times struggling to
survive in the “Wild Wild West” we still managed to keep on passing the
baton of cowboyism generation after generation.
The knowledge of Cowboyism has been passed on to rodeo champions like Fred
Woodfield a professional World Champion straight out of Acres Homes with 4
World Titles under his belt buckle. That’s right straight from the hood you
have champion like him and Joe”Lil Joe” Hutson. Lil Joe holds a champion
title in head and healing, that he won in 1992. Lil Joe a retired bull rider
tells AAN&I that from 1961-1982 he rode bulls until he switched to calf
roping toward the end of 82’. Joe said, “we use to go all around town riding
and doing what cowboys do at rodeos and trail rides. We even had rodeos
right here in the heart of Acres Home off of Mansfield and Bland in the
early 70’s”. Now that he’s retired he now is the right hand man to Mr. Jim
Gainus of JM & P Construction. We see yah Lil Joe keep doing what yah doing.
From the historical Acres Homes to the hard streets of 5th ward AAN&I went
into another history making place for the undisputed Black cowboys. The
roping pin and stall off of Collingsworth and Lynn is the historical marker
in 5th ward for being one of the best kept secrets for Black cowboys in the
city for 40 yrs. and counting. Being around that stall showed the Cowboyism
from the ownership, friendship, and business stand point.
The Grant Family is the owner of that stall and they show hospitality to
anybody who wants to learn how to do cowboy things or to just see what a
cowboy does. Just like a white family that has something in their family and
keep on passing it to generation to generation the Grant family is doing the
same thing, but better. Their stall gives the kids, teenagers, senior
citizens and grown ups something new and exciting to do instead of wasting
valuable time.
Great champions grew up and trained at that very same stall. One in
particular is Johny ‘Ullrich” Gold the God father of that stall grew up
riding at the Grants stall. Just think, who knew a champion like Mr. Gold
training, hanging, and riding horses at that stall would become a
professional World Champion in calf roping and tie down. Not to mention
riding side by side with heavy hitters like Joe Beaver, Fred Whitfield,
Codyohl, and Ricky Canton. Ullrich is a retired 61 yr. old Black cowboy who
enjoys teaching kids of all ages, men, and women for free how to be a good
calf roper, like himself. And most of all he still ride at the Grant’s stall
in 5th Ward. Job well done Mr. Johny “Ullrich” Gold.
“Black Cowboys Rode Tall in the Saddle” all around the country especially in
TX., but with little support or sponsors its hard for them to hit the main
stream like other cowboys.
We even have our own rodeos, but how often do we as in people of color go
and support the Black Rodeo. But soon as the Houston Live Stock Rodeo come
we are there. How funny is that! What about the Black Cowboysim that’s being
passed on through our own rodeos and trail rides? Our Black cowboys helped
built this country that we live in along with our enslaved ancestors. Are we
the ones benefiting from it? No, the slave masters and white cowboys are the
ones that’s still benefiting from our hard work. They are the ones that
still have ranches that they go home to once they come into the city to take
care of business that they own or trying to take over someone else's
business. Hell just look at Bush, the president where is he all the time? At
his ranch in TX.
Why ? Because his family benefited from our Black cowboys and slaves, which
allowed them to pass on money and land to generation after generation.
Majority of our Black cowboys just died with no type acknowledgement of
their accomplishments or money or property that they had before their
deaths.
Speaking from a fact that Black cowboys do exist and have contributed to the
history of this country we call the land of the free. From slavery to
present time the struggle of Blacks to overcome will never end just like the
learning of what our Black Brathas and Sistahs has done and built in the
history timeline. “Knowledge is power” and with that comes a responsibility
to teach to the one that just don’t know.
T.Sloan Saying May the African-American News&Issues with a Black Perspective
Force Be With You!
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