Re-emergencing of the Atlanta Black Cowboy
By: Jada Davis
The Cowboy & Cowgirls Fashion Showdown solidified the theory that the image of a cowboy has changed from a predominantly white ideal to being available to any person, race, or gender. A block party-feel event that housed local Atlanta businesses and a community of predominantly black “country folk.” Line-dancing, whistling, and lots of laughter. To be truthfully honest, I was not the expected guest for this very black event. The event is a get-together for old friends, new friends, and people who want to get their party on. There were also a handful of younger people, including me, but most people who attended by the night’s end were older. While watching people line-dancing, I realized why the event still felt fun, with a seemingly small audience. Black people enjoyed the company of each other, and with no say from the outside audience, they said what they could or couldn’t do. Being allowed a chance to be in a room with people authentically themselves was a light of hope in these seemingly dark times.
Born in New Jersey, but raised in Georgia. That’s my life story, and I happen to be a black person. My non-white identity in a country that mistreated my ancestors for its own gain makes it difficult for me to feel pride for a nation that betrayed people who didn’t fit a standard image. As a child, I loved to watch older films, but more specifically, western films. However, most cowboys and examples of Western fashion revolved heavily around the “White Cowboy.” Discouraging, for me, any ideas that a black person, or a POC, could never be accepted within cowboy circles. More specifically, the fashion in the era of the original cowboys was like that in the Western movies. Over the last couple of years, line-dancing TikTok has shown me an overwhelming number of non-white people who are into Western hobbies. As a person of color, it was hard to imagine myself wearing those clothes without recognizing the racial climate for POC. But with the emergence of the Black cowboy and the release of Beyonce’s 2024 album “Cowboy Carter, there seems to be a radical shift in what it means to be a cowboy.
Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter album and tour weren’t to be a ploy for her to grip her tentacles into another music genre. She was bringing black American history back into the light for everyone to see. Bianca Lambert told Capital B Atlanta, “[Beyonce’s] saying,’ Listen, Black people literally built this country. This flag is as much ours as it is yours.” This tour was an homage to every other Black country artist who came before her and those who will come after.
Cyerra Latham is an up-and-coming fashion designer whose Western fashion collection, Lasso & Luxe, was spotlighted in various articles and magazines. In a conversation with Latham, she explained her history with Western fashion. “ For me, where I was raised, Western fashion is about showcasing the true style of that working-class community, the farmers and ranch men.” Her collection tells the story of her parents’ love, her mother from Southern California and her father from Mississippi. The collection “studies the blending of glamour silhouettes while using western textiles like wool, leather, and suede.” Latham focuses on her designs and the storytelling with a collection,” I truly believe that what someone wears gives them a sense of confidence or identity. Most of the time, my inspiration can come from anywhere, and then I think about what story I wanna tell through fashion.”
As a black person, I am so used to the condemnation of POC simply existing and daring to make a poor situation work for us. Non-POC have personally stared at me for just existing in the same space as them. Emily Keegin told CNN,” Yet again, we’re seeing a trend be ushered into the zeitgeist by Black Americans and then whitewashed a few years later,” It is a vicious cycle that has been happening since the beginning of the country. The re-emergence of the black cowboy is a pushback that has been coming for a long time. Within the last 40-odd years, there has been a rise in POC telling the correct narrative of our country and whose backs it was built on, but also reclaiming our heritage. While reparations are a more complex conversation to have with people, others can use fashion to challenge people’s ideals.
There are two main competitors for Western wear within the Metro Atlanta area, Cerrito Western Wear and Cavender Horsetown South, one more white leaning than the other. “I used to shop at Cavender’s when it was Horsetown. I loved it, but the sizes are for narrower feet and skinnier people.” Marisol from Cerrito Western Wear gave some insight from an insider’s perspective. “Our demographic is mainly Hispanic men, but minorities in general. We offer a wide range of sizes in boots and clothes to ensure accessibility for everyone. We have started seeing younger people because of the popularity of line dancing and “Boots on the Ground”. Because people never want to wear boots once, I started having fliers so everyone can know when events happen around here.” Beyoncé’s tour stop in Atlanta lasted four nights and hit the Cerrito store like a bad storm.” We are never packed on Mondays. The Monday before Beyoncé came to town, our hat wall was almost cleared, and the next day the store looked trashed.”
jada Davis 