Black cowboy movies fall under the Blaxploitation genre, which was borne out of its combination with Western films. What the genre seeks to do is empower black people and highlight racial and crime matters.
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The cowboys were former slaves and had to survive in the American culture and also deal with racial injustice among other things. If you’re looking for something to watch this weekend, check out these black cowboy movies.
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Gang of Roses
Gang of Roses is one of the most popular black cowboy movies owing to its female-led cast. Directed by Jean-Claude La Marre, it’s a story of a group of women who came out of retirement to rescue another woman.
As you can predict, the film is filled with drama and action and challenges the classic Western approach to films and gender roles in society.
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They Die by Dawn
Released in 2013 and directed by Jeymes Samuels, this 51-minute film revolves around some real historical figures acted by Bokeem Woodbine, Erykah Badu and Michael Kenneth Williams among others. They gather for a showdown in which we see a confrontation play out. Who comes out? Make this your weekend watch to figure that out.
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Freedom
Director Peter Cousens delivers a drama in which he follows Samuel Woodward’s journey of finding freedom from enslavement. Woodward was captured in the Monroe Plantation but escaped and with the help of the Underground Railroad, he finds his way to Canada. He’s relentlessly followed but manages to escape forever.
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Django Unchained
Academy Award-winning director Quentin Tarantino is behind this title in which he casts Jamie Foxx (Django). Together with a German hunter, the two team up to free slaves, one of whom is his wife.
Tarantino put together a stellar cast that also included Kerry Washington and Leonardo DiCaprio. The film was released to critical acclaim and received a couple of nominations. Tarantino received an Academy Award for this film.
The Harder They Fall
Of all the black cowboy movies out there, this is a must-watch. Released in 2021 and streaming on Netflix, it follows the story of Jonathan Majors who plays Nat Love, whose parents were killed by Rufus Buck (Idris Elba). Years, later he hunts him and his associates down in search of revenge.
It’s an action-packed Western film that’ll leave you on the edge of your seat. The film has received positive reviews and won awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Ensemble at the African American Film Critics Association.
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Buck and The Preacher
The success of Buck and The Preacher comes from having an African American telling their own story while having a majority black cast.
Directed by Sidney Poitier, the film revolves around how Harry Belafonte named The Preacher, helped slaves gain their freedom from a cruel master.
The film received mixed reviews but has come to be one of the best black cowboy movies you should watch.
Concrete Cowboy
Idris Elba takes center stage in Concrete Cowboy which comes with a twist from the classic old west environment in favor of the modern inner cities.
A rebellious teenager goes to live with his father and ends up connecting with the black cowboy community in Philadelphia.
The personal exchange among them makes this film a standout even though it lacks the action we’ve come to expect with such black Western films.
Black cowboy movies are an old genre through which African-Americans get a chance to tell their story. Step out of the modern-day drama films and let these films take you back to the old days. Moreover, these movies are a reminder of black actor’s talents and a reminder of the forgotten story of the black cowboys.
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