Overlooked
The image of the cowboy has long been painted in stark shades of white, yet history tells a different story. One rich with the resilience, strength, and legacy of Black riders who have shaped the American South. My work unravels the overlooked narratives of Black cowboys and cowgirls, capturing the spirit and traditions that have persisted for generations.
This work honors a history that refuses to be neglected. By sharing these stories, I invite viewers to reconsider who the cowboy truly is and to celebrate a culture that is both rooted in history and thriving in the present.
PhotoPoetics Collaboration with Poet Nneoma Ohale
we been here
wit belt buckles bigger
than two balled up fists
riding wit our backs bared
wearin broke in boots and
stetsons on over our afros
stetsons on over our braids
over low cut caesars
wit deep waves
our gold chains gleaming
in southern sunlight
in compton in galveston
in sumter in baton rouge
riding stood up or
leaned back and carrying on
our way to the fish fry
lugging gallon jugs
full of moonshine
smelling of reefer and spilt beer
to the corner store to the trail ride
we hoof it wit our horses
on the paved clay of our rodeo
arenas on concrete sidewalks
on off-road dirt trails
we everywhere all over
dis aint nun new
we old as silver dollars
older even still
—Nneoma Ohale