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KALAMAZOO , USA

Black Cowboys: An American Story

Black Cowboys: An American Story, a traveling exhibition from the Witte Museum, invites visitors to explore the lives and work of the numerous Black men, women, and children — enslaved and free — who labored on ranches and participated in cattle drives from 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. Biographical profiles, photos, artifacts, multimedia, and interactives reveal how Black cowboys were integral to the American economy, shaped the legacies of Black ranching families, and turned ranch skills into popular performances in rodeos, music, and film.

 

This audio tour will read the exhibit panels throughout six sections, which include subthemes. Each stop will be the exhibit panels in that entire section. 

 

Begin with the entry artifact case, which is centered in the hallway. Continue to the interior of the gallery in a counterclockwise rotation around the room, back out into the hallway.  

Map
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230 North Rose Street, Kalamazoo , MI, USA
Black Cowboys: An American Story
  1. Black Cowboys: An American Story Entry Object & Panel Section 1
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  2. Section 2: Who Were Black Cowboys? Men & Women
    LISTEN
  3. Section 2: Who Were Black Cowboys? Children
    LISTEN
  4. Section 2: Who Were Black Cowboys? Enslaved
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  5. Section 2: Who Were Black Cowboys? Black Ranchers
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  6. Section 2: Who Were Black Cowboys? Recovering Black Cowboys Stories
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  7. Section 2: Who Were Black Cowboys? African Origins.
    LISTEN
  8. Section 3: Hector Bazy, Black Cowboy
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  9. Section 4: Black Cowboys Were Integral to the Texas Economy
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  10. Section 4: Tower Bios of Famous Black Cowboys
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  11. Section 4: Where did Black Cowboys Work? The Great Cattle Trails
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  12. Section 4: Essential Cowboy Skills Cooks & Other Jobs
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  13. Section 4: Wall Bio Hector Bazy
    LISTEN
  14. Section 4: Wall Bio Nat Love
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  15. Section 4: Impact of the Cattle Industry
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  16. Section 4: Monroe Brackins & Jim Perry Bios
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  17. Section 5: Black Cowboys - enslaved and free - used their skills to become Black Ranchers and shaped the legacies of Black ranching families
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  18. Section 5: Tower Bios of Prominent Black Ranchers & Farmers
    LISTEN