A New Generation of Black Cowboys Is Born in West Oakland

Children and parents lined the sidewalks of DeFremery Park in West Oakland this weekend to catch a glimpse of something that’s not an everyday sight: black cowboys prancing on their horses down the streets.

It was the 43rd annual Oakland Black Cowboy Parade and Festival, hosted by the Oakland Black Cowboy Association (OBCA).

Even though the event is in its fourth decade, not many know that up to one in four cowboys who helped settle the Wild West was black.

Wilbert McAlister is the current president of the association. He believes it's because that part of history isn’t in textbooks.

“You know, after slavery, they [black cowboys] started bringing cattle out towards the West,” he said. “They had cowboys that knew how to ride and we were good at it.”

Now the tradition of black cowboys is being carried on.

Erik Smith is a 10-year-old from San Leandro. He’s an aspiring cowboy. “I’ve been wanting to ride horses since I was a little baby,” he said.

His dad finally let him when he was around 7 years old. So he connected with Sam Styles, an older cowboy and member of the OBCA.

And just a few months ago, his dad bought him his first horse, Whiskey.

Erik was excited to ride his horse in the parade with around 20 other cowboys. They all rode gallantly through the streets of West Oakland, trotted in unison together and danced with their horses. The crowd cheered and clapped.

Having the opportunity to have black cowboys is important to Erik. He wants to become a member of the Oakland Black Cowboy Association when he gets a little older.

“If there wasn’t black cowboys, things wouldn’t be the same," he said. "We wouldn’t have parades or things like this.”