Contrary to Hollywood, black slaves were America’s 1st cowboys. The word cowboy, originally had nothing to do w-roping cattle & hell-raising in the high plains. The word 'cowboy' grew out of social customs that did not allow black males to be addressed as 'mister' or 'men'. 'Boy,' was a derogatory term for a black male that included "cowboy,”, "house boy,” “field boy,” “stable boy". Thousands of black cowboys were lawmen, Buffalo soldiers, ranchers, farmers. Few are found in history books.
