Jordan Peele’s new project, the Peacock docuseries High Horse: The Black Cowboy, seeks to shed light on the often-overlooked legacy of Black cowboys in American history. Featuring an array of notable Hip-Hop figures and historians, the series aims to challenge misconceptions and highlight the integral role African Americans played in shaping the frontier, firmly placing the Jordan Peele Black Cowboy Documentary in the spotlight.
Hip-Hop Icons Join the Storytelling Effort
Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions has curated a three-part documentary that incorporates voices from Texas rap legend Bun B and Miami’s Rick Ross, among others. Their perspectives help reveal how Black men were significantly involved in the development of the American West long before Hollywood’s depictions overshadowed their contributions. Bun B, famed for his work with the Houston duo UGK, brings deep Texas roots and credibility, notably as the first Black male Hip-Hop headliner at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a landmark institution in Houston that spans over ninety years.
Bun B addressed the significance of the project, stating,
“This is not Black people trying to assimilate with this country Western lifestyle. Black people across this country – East Coast to West Coast – have been prevalent in this space for years,”
Bun B, Ambassador, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Hip-Hop’s Embrace of Cowboy Culture
The documentary arrives amid a trend where Hip-Hop artists are embracing Western motifs and reasserting their connection to cowboy history. From Lil Nas X’s chart-topping “Old Town Road” to Shaboozey’s emergence, and Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” album, Hip-Hop culture is reclaiming and reinterpreting cowboy heritage for a new generation. This creative current reflects broader movements by Black musicians to highlight overlooked aspects of American history and culture.
Historical Foundations and Influences
Peele’s documentary stands on the shoulders of decades of academic work, particularly the research of William Loren Katz. His seminal 1971 book, The Black West: A Documentary and Pictorial History of the African American Role in the Westward Expansion of the United States, brought to public attention the stories of Black explorers, fur traders, settlers, cowboys, and soldiers dating from the 1500s. Inspired by conversations with poet Langston Hughes, Katz’s research described overlooked pioneers such as Nat Love and illuminated the roles Black Americans played in shaping the frontier.
Musical Heritage and Country Music’s Black Roots
The impact of Black artists in country music extends back a century, with figures like DeFord Bailey becoming one of the early Grand Ole Opry stars in the 1920s. Trailblazers like Charley Pride broke barriers in later decades, setting the stage for today’s country musicians such as Darius Rucker, Kane Brown, and Mickey Guyton to diversify and expand the genre’s reach. This artistic lineage connects seamlessly with the cowboy culture that Hip-Hop artists are now celebrating and reclaiming in both music and media.
Reframing American History Through Film
Utilizing archival materials and filmed narratives, the documentary presents the stories of Black cowboy communities both past and present from across the United States. According to Bun B, the project’s educational value goes beyond being a footnote in Black history: it is meant for all Americans. Bun B emphasized,
“It’s not a Black story — this is an American story,”
Bun B, Ambassador, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He further stated,
“This will turn everything that you know about the American cowboy on its head in the right way, and put these things into proper historical context. And that benefits all Americans.”
Bun B, Ambassador, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Impact and Future Conversations
By correcting misconceptions and revealing the authentic contributions of African Americans on the frontier, Jordan Peele and his collaborators are providing a broader, more inclusive narrative of the American West. As the documentary airs and conversation grows, it is likely to inspire further research, cultural expression, and recognition of Black cowboys across entertainment and educational spheres, reinforcing that the legacy of the West belongs to all Americans.
