African-American trail rides

Louisiana–Texas cultural festivals

Black cowgirls and cowboys

African-American trail rides, or Black trail rides, are rural parade-like celebrations that commemorate the traditions of the Black Cowboys, and formerly enslaved African Americans ancestors[needs copy edit] who were skilled in caring for and training livestock.[1] The tradition is found in the Afro-American communities of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama.

Creole trail rides in Louisiana and Texas typically feature a "procession, zydeco music, dancing and feasting."[2] The annual Step-N-Strut trail ride in St. Landry Parish has been described as "the Creole Woodstock."[2] Trail rides are increasingly popular in Mississippi.[3]

References

  1. ^ Higgins, Alicia Barrera, Adam B. (2022-02-23). "Local organization aims to preserve Black cowboy culture through trail riding". KSAT. Retrieved 2023-11-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b Balsam, Joel (2018-09-21). "Black cowboys: Creole trail rides showcase unique culture". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  3. ^ Giancarlo, Alexandra (Winter 2017). "Riders". 64 Parishes. Photographs by Jeremiah Ariaz. Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. Retrieved 2023-12-12.

Further reading

  • Sluyter, Andrew (2012). Black Ranching Frontiers: African Cattle Herders of the Atlantic World, 1500–1900. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300179927.
  • Binkovitz, Leah (December 2022). "Circling the Herd: Houston's Black Trail Riders, Placemaking, and the Liberatory Potential of Second Sites". City & Community. 21 (4): 270–289. doi:10.1177/15356841221084263. ISSN 1535-6841. S2CID 247983898.


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