New York City Federation of Black Cowboys facts for kids
The New York City Federation of Black Cowboys (FBC) is a group that teaches people how to ride horses. They also help educate children and keep alive the amazing history of African-American cowboys from the Old West.
The FBC is located in a neighborhood called The Hole. This area is on the edge of Brooklyn and Queens in New York City. The Federation offers educational tours and teaches young people how to ride horses. They also take part in public events, like riding horses for eight hours across Brooklyn!
Did you know that in the 1870s and 1880s, about one-fourth of all cowboys in the Western Frontier were African-American? That's about 25% of 35,000 cowboys! The Federation honors this important history. They do this through youth programs, exciting rodeos, and visits to schools. Horse riding also helps teach young people important life skills. These include patience, kindness, and being understanding of others.
As of 2019, the president of the FBC is Kesha "Mama" Morse. She is the first woman to lead the organization!
How the Federation Started
The Federation of Black Cowboys officially began in 1994. They rented the Cedar Lane Stables in Queens from the Parks Department.
In 2012, the Cedar Lane Stables needed important repairs. The city had to close the stables for a while so the Federation could fix them up.
The Federation had rented the stables for many years. Their last agreement was in 2015. In February 2016, the FBC learned that their rental agreement would not be renewed. Another group, GallopNYC, offered more money for the stables. GallopNYC is a non-profit that helps people with disabilities through horse riding. Even though the Federation lost the stables, New York City officials said the FBC made a "positive historical contribution to the community."
Sharing Their Story
In 2019, the famous denim brand Wrangler made a short film about the Federation. This film was part of their Wrangler Legends video series. It helped share the FBC's story with many more people.
On Juneteenth in 2022, the FBC worked with jazz musician Allan Harris. They put on a musical called Cross That River. The show was held in Marcus Garvey Park in Manhattan. The musical tells the story of a character named Blu. Blu runs away from slavery to become a cowboy out west. This special event was presented by NYC Parks, City College Center for the Arts, Jazzmobile, and Love Productions.
That same year, the FBC was also part of the Battery Park Juneteenth celebration. They shared a brief history of Juneteenth. Blues musicians Michael Hill, Jerry Dugger, Junior Mack, and Bill McClellan also performed. After the history lesson, children could enjoy fun pony rides!
