Black Cowboys of Texas (Centennial Series of the Association of Former Students, Texas A&M University, No 86) (Hardcover)

~ Sara R. Massey (Editor) "Black cowboys in Texas played diverse roles in ranching as it evolved over the period from the early 1700s to the 1990s..." (more)
Key Phrases: other black cowboys, western cattle industry, trail drivers, African American, Mathew Hooks, Civil War (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The cowboy, and his role in the "winning" of the West, remains one of our enduring national myths. Recent historians have largely dispelled much of the romanticism surrounding cowboy life, but the significant role of African American cowboys has not been widely acknowledged. Massey is a curriculum specialist at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She has compiled a broad, interesting anthology that covers a variety of aspects of the subject. As a result, a clear picture emerges, indicating that African Americans were deeply involved in the Texas cattle industry. Although their skill was generally admired by their white peers and their employers, it did not necessarily shield them from the effects of racial bigotry. Massey has provided valuable essays on regional history that enrich our understanding of the heritage of the West. Jay Freeman

Review

"Sarah Massey's volume is so well done that one need be neither black nor Texan to enjoy the book. Black Cowboys of Texas has the merit of expanding the horizons of two kinds of history, that of the cowboy as well as that of the African American." - The Bloomsbury Review" --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 361 pages
• Publisher: Texas A&M University Press; 1st edition (March 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0890969345
• ISBN-13: 978-0890969342
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,205,281 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ensemble Cast of Authors Add to Cowboy Lore, March 25, 2000

By	Carol Lane (Texas) - See all my reviews

Never-told-before stories of the ways things were for black cowboys ( and cowgirls) make this book worth a look. Whether your interest is in anything Texan, cowboys in general, or African Americans, I recommend this book to you. An ensemble cast of authors has given us detailed and personal looks into the fascinating and largely unknown lives of black cowboys. The writers bring the characters affectionately to life with stories as told to them and rich descriptions of the experiences of the black cowboys. It was a hard life, but not one devoid of humor and satisfaction. This collection brings the reader a panorama of lively characters and tales as wide as Texas itself, and makes a worthy contribution to cowboy romance and lore.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Super book, May 11, 2000

By	John MacDonald (the USA) - See all my reviews

I had no idea that there were so many black cowboys and cowgirls before I read this book. Many black cowboys/girls are reviewed in the book and each has his/her own, fascinating story. It is an extremely interesting book and I highly recommend it to everyone.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Omission Condition, December 3, 2004

By	B. L. Clark "Cottonwood Books" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Thesis: Black cowboys have been avoided and left unseen in the history of Texas and ranching in the western United States though their contributions have been vital to the development of ranches, towns and settlements scattered throughout Texas.

Content: The Civil War left old men, women, children and slaves to tend the daily necessities of farm and ranch life in the South. The same was true in Texas. Leaving cattle-tending responsibilities to slaves many were able to master the duties of the cow-puncher. With no barbed-wire to delineate pasture and keep herds together, cattle roamed wild. Left unchecked the cattle population exploded. Though slaves were charged with cattle-tending they were not allowed firearms to protect themselves from predators or hostile Native Americans.
During Reconstruction Texas cattlemen had two issues to address. The first problem was expounded by the second. With cattle populations growing unchecked through the war years there were far too many cattle for local markets. Cattle would have to be driven up trials to railheads to be shipped to eastern markets. Money was to be made, but getting the cattle to market was a difficult issue to surmount.
The second problem for ranchers was that emancipation had removed their workforce. The shortage of labor, especially the shortage of skilled cow hands was answered by newly free blacks, who had gained experience cattle-tending since before the years of the Republic. These men were generally assigned the more dangerous tasks of breaking broncos. They were commonly paid at a lesser rate than their white counterparts, but there were exceptions of equal pay. Frequently cattlemen would even pay their cowboys in cattle. Through these opportunities of receiving cattle for work many African-Americans were able to amass large herds of their own.

Critique: Sara Massey's book is a collection of twenty-five biographical sketches written by as many writers. They range in content and quality from expanded obituaries to in-depth biographical essays illustrating one man or woman's contributions. Each article illustrates the important role African-Americans had in the settlement and development of Texas and ranching through the life experiences of diverse individuals. Each of the twenty-five lives examined illustrate different experiences and contributions of African-Americans to the settlement of Texas and development of the cattle industry in the west.
B. L. Clark