For every dusty Western movie you’ve seen with a stoic white cowboy riding off into the sunset, there’s a lesser-known truth: one in four actual cowboys in the American West was Black. And starting June 14, Black Cowboys: An American Story at The Autry Museum sets the record straight—with boots, bull riders, and a whole lot of history.
Running through January 4, 2026, the exhibition isn’t just about filling in the gaps—it’s about rewriting the narrative. Visitors will meet the cowboys (and cowgirls) who tamed wild horses, worked ranches, wore the badge, and yes, even headlined rodeos long before the mainstream caught on. It’s a powerful reminder that the Black West wasn’t a side plot—it was central to the story all along.
The Real Story Behind the Myth
Co-organized with the Witte Museum in San Antonio, the exhibit offers a deep dive into the lives of Black cowfolk—past and present. Expect a blend of historic artifacts, photographs, video stories, and personal accounts. You’ll see how ranch hands became rodeo legends, how lawmen kept the peace on the frontier, and how performers brought Black cowboy culture to the stage, screen, and saddle.
There’s Charlie Sampson, the first Black bull rider to win a world championship. Sharon Braxton, one of the first Black women to make waves in professional barrel racing. And yes, you’ll also find the film posters—from The Bull-Dogger (1922) starring real-life rodeo icon Bill Pickett to Netflix’s The Harder They Fall—that show how Black cowboys have shaped pop culture, even when Hollywood tried to ignore it.
Hollywood, Meet the Real West
The Autry’s version of the exhibit adds a particularly California twist, with highlights on the Buffalo Soldiers, cowboy culture in the Golden State, and how the image of the Black cowboy evolved in film. This isn’t just about artifacts—it’s about image, legacy, and who gets to wear the hat (on-screen and off).
As Stephen Aron, Autry President and CEO, puts it: “The history of the most mythologized of American figures—the cowboy—gets a long overdue expansion.” And it’s one that feels as stylish and relevant as ever, especially with cowboy aesthetics making the rounds again in fashion, music, and art.
Come for the History, Stay for the Culture
The Autry has long been the place where LA families come to connect with the stories of the West—not just the frontier version, but the lived, layered, multicultural one. This exhibition delivers all that and more: it’s educational, yes, but also deeply cool.
Whether your kid is horse-obsessed or you’ve got a budding history buff at home, this one’s worth a visit. It’s also a great reminder that the “Wild West” wasn’t so one-dimensional—and that the stories we tell shape the ones our kids believe.
Black Cowboys: An American Story
The Autry Museum, Griffith Park
June 14, 2025 – January 4, 2026
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