The term cowboy has interesting origins. Originally, White cowboys were called cowhands, and African Americans were pejoratively referred to as “cowboys.” African American men being called “boy” regardless of their age stems from slavery and the plantation era in the South. Many southerners moved to the West and westerners would have been familiar with southern racial etiquette. So, it is no surprise that the racial issues prevalent in the North and South were also impacting the American West.

The everyday life of all cowboys on the job was usually rough regardless of a cowboy’s racial or ethnic background. Black cowboys were usually assigned horses with “wild behaviors” and they had to train them to be ridden. Typically, African American cowboys had more than one duty. For example, a Black cowboy that was a trail cook would be expected to cook, hunt deer and wild turkey, perform on the trail by singing or playing a musical instrument. Some Black cowboys also fulfilled a role as a nurse, bodyguard and money transporter for White cattlemen.