Sammy Davis Jr.s’ dream of playing a Western Hero/Cowboy was likely greatly lessened by the false belief that there were no Black cowboys in the Old West.
Howdy!
I love Westerns.
... and the intent of MyFavoriteWesterns.com is to celebrate Western Movies/Film - old and new.
This site will eventually show my top 30 favorite Westerns - or more. I will have original graphic work with regular updates.
All this - and more ...
Yee Haw ... !!
- jcablerta / Moderator / Administrator
View all posts by jcalberta
6 thoughts on “Black Cowboy 1 … an Essay in Images”
I’d like to read the ‘Black West’. Poor Sammy. What a pity Hollywood didn’t create a script showing the estimated 5,000 black cowboys. First time I saw one in film was Blazing Saddles and thought it looked odd.
One of the first depictions of Blacks in a Western that portrayed them in a dignified manner was Sergeant Rutledge (1960) starring Woody Strode. Caused a bit of a stir of that time. Haven’t seen the film in years and am wondering if it still stands up? Will have to have a look.
Did Cary make Westerns? (joke) Many of us kids had that dream,
Researchers say that between 1/4 and 1/3 of Cowboys in the Old West were Black or Mexican Vaqueros. That’s quite a few.
I’d like to read the ‘Black West’. Poor Sammy. What a pity Hollywood didn’t create a script showing the estimated 5,000 black cowboys. First time I saw one in film was Blazing Saddles and thought it looked odd.
One of the first depictions of Blacks in a Western that portrayed them in a dignified manner was Sergeant Rutledge (1960) starring Woody Strode. Caused a bit of a stir of that time. Haven’t seen the film in years and am wondering if it still stands up? Will have to have a look.
I talk about Nat Love in class. He was born in Nashville.
Thanks Rick, I did not know that. I plan to post a small profile on Nat.
Garry yearned to be one of those guys 🙂 That, or Cary Grant.
Did Cary make Westerns? (joke) Many of us kids had that dream,
Researchers say that between 1/4 and 1/3 of Cowboys in the Old West were Black or Mexican Vaqueros. That’s quite a few.