The African American Museum, Dallas will present "Black Cowboys: An American Story," featuring more than 50 artifacts, photographs, documents, and films. The exhibition explores the lives and work of the numerous Black men, women, and children, enslaved and free, who labored on the ranches of Texas and participated in cattle drives before the Civil War through the turn of the 20th century.

By revealing stories that have largely been untold, "Black Cowboys" offers insight into the legendary cowboy, a clearer picture of the Black West, and a more diverse portrait of the American West. Organized into three sections, the exhibition begins with the work Black cowboys performed to tend cattle along the trails from 1865 to the 1890s and how they were integral to the Texas economy. The exhibition progresses to explore Black ranching families and the ways enslaved and free Black cowboys developed ranches of their own after Emancipation. The third section spotlights popular performances by Black cowboys in rodeos, music and film.