Beyoncé on why she used ‘cowboy’ in in the album title: “The word cowboy itself was used in a derogatory way to describe the former slaves as "boys," who were the most skilled and had the hardest jobs of handling horses and cattle, alike. In destroying the negative connotation, what remains is the strength and resiliency of these men who were the true definition of Western fortitude.”
While Beyoncé’s post is well meaning in support of Black pride and history, it isn’t accurate. There is well researched documentation on how and why the word cowboy came into play. With that said, maybe a better way to fight for Black recognition of their historical contributions would be to celebrate true Black heroes and their accomplishments like this one. history.com/news/bass-reev…
@ThePopTingz @Coutorce Not western, southern.
@ThePopTingz She’s correct. Most cowboys/cowhands were African slaves and Native American slaves because they were the ones to do the dirty work in the fields and tending to the animals
@ThePopTingz Foundational Black American Heritage 🖤🇺🇸…. No matter what is thrown at us, we FLIP IT into gold.
@ThePopTingz N reinterpreting of the word. Just dudes working rustling cattle. Nothing more.
@ThePopTingz My reaction to that information
@ThePopTingz Black American is the culture, we just coming back home to our country music, which we created.
@ThePopTingz @RAVIEB can we recreate this look for a dream photo shoot? 😂🙌🏽
She is right the term "cowboy" itself, originally carrying a derogatory connotation when referring to African Americans, was reclaimed and transformed over time. Initially used to demean, the term became synonymous with the skilled, resilient figures who played a crucial role in the American West. The cowboy era might have been short-lived, fading by the turn of the century as railroads expanded and the open range closed, but the legacy of cowboys, especially those of color, continued in rodeos and Wild West shows. Despite facing discrimination, African American cowboys like Bill Pickett, who invented the rodeo event of bulldogging, and others contributed significantly to the culture and sport of rodeo, challenging racial barriers and leaving a lasting impact on the history of the American West Here is my source: daily.jstor.org/black-cowboys-…