Recommended Reading - Black Cowboys and Buffalo Soldiers


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	For decades, historians largely ignored the presence of African-Americans in the West. Not until the civil rights movement of the 1960s, when the history of blacks on the frontier was teetering on the edge of living memory, did scholars give the question serious attention. Until then, historians of the period generally accepted that, by and large, only white people did anything worth recording in the annals of civilization. Those few black individuals -- or members of any minority population -- who were widely remembered were looked upon as rare exceptions to the rule.

"The Black West" by William Katz The Black West
William L. Katz, 1987
Simon & Schuster - $14.00
ISBN 0-684-81478-1

The Black West traces the participation of slaves and free blacks in the westward expansion of the United States from colonial times to the failure of racial integration in Oklahoma in the early 1900s. It includes chapters on black cowboys, settlers, and women on the frontier, as well as African-Americans in the fur trade and the Spanish-American War. Well illustrated with rare period photographs.

"The Buffalo Soldiers" by William Leckie The Buffalo Soldiers
William H. Leckie, 1967
University of Oklahoma Press - $14.95
ISBN 0-8061-1244-1

An early, widely acclaimed effort at debunking the myth of "the White West," The Buffalo Soldiers chronicles the story of the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry Regiments -- units formed to segregate black soldiers who wanted to remain in the US Army after the Civil War. Despite the racism of army officers and the prejudice of frontier towns, the men of the 9th & 10th Cavalry were arguably the most professional, reliable, and effective soldiers on the western frontier.

"My Name Is York" by Elizabeth van Steenwyk and Bill Farnsworth My Name Is York
Elizabeth van Steenwyk, 1997
Iillustrated by Bill Farnsworth
Northland Publishing - $14.95
ISBN 0-87358-650-6

A richly illustrated children's book written from the perspective of York, the slave of William Clark and the only African-American on the Lewis & Clark expedition. A fine book for beginning readers and an effective means of opening a discussion about slavery and racism with inquisitive youngsters.

The Negro Cowboys
Philip Durham & Everett L. Jones, 1965
Bison Books - $11.00
ISBN 0-8032-6560-3

The main focus of The Negro Cowboys is the estimated 5000 black cowboys who headed west in search of opportunity and freedom. However, it also tells the largely unknown stories of black lawmen, rodeo riders, outlaws, and con men.

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	The Black West William L. Katz, 1987 Simon & Schuster - $14.00 ISBN 0-684-81478-1 The Black West traces the participation of slaves and free blacks in the westward expansion of the United States from colonial times to the failure of racial integration in Oklahoma in the early 1900s. It includes chapters on black cowboys, settlers, and women on the frontier, as well as African-Americans in the fur trade and the Spanish-American War. Well illustrated with rare period photographs.
	The Buffalo Soldiers William H. Leckie, 1967 University of Oklahoma Press - $14.95 ISBN 0-8061-1244-1 An early, widely acclaimed effort at debunking the myth of "the White West," The Buffalo Soldiers chronicles the story of the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry Regiments -- units formed to segregate black soldiers who wanted to remain in the US Army after the Civil War. Despite the racism of army officers and the prejudice of frontier towns, the men of the 9th & 10th Cavalry were arguably the most professional, reliable, and effective soldiers on the western frontier.
	My Name Is York Elizabeth van Steenwyk, 1997 Iillustrated by Bill Farnsworth Northland Publishing - $14.95 ISBN 0-87358-650-6 A richly illustrated children's book written from the perspective of York, the slave of William Clark and the only African-American on the Lewis & Clark expedition. A fine book for beginning readers and an effective means of opening a discussion about slavery and racism with inquisitive youngsters.
	The Negro Cowboys Philip Durham & Everett L. Jones, 1965 Bison Books - $11.00 ISBN 0-8032-6560-3 The main focus of The Negro Cowboys is the estimated 5000 black cowboys who headed west in search of opportunity and freedom. However, it also tells the largely unknown stories of black lawmen, rodeo riders, outlaws, and con men.