Oakland Black Cowboy Association facts for kids
The Oakland Black Cowboy Association booth at the Oakland Black Cowboy Parade and Festival
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| Formation | 1970s |
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| Founder | Lonnie Scoggins/Booker Emery |
| Headquarters | Oakland, California |
| Website | http://www.blackcowboyassociation.org |
The Oakland Black Cowboy Association is a group that helps people learn about the history of Black cowboys. It is a nonprofit organization, which means it works to help the community instead of making money. This group is based in the West Oakland area of Oakland, California. Every year, they put on the Oakland Black Cowboy Parade and Festival.
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How the Oakland Black Cowboy Association Started
Before the association officially began, a man named Booker Emery rode his horse around Oakland in the 1960s and 70s. He gathered friends who also rode horses, and people enjoyed seeing them.
The Oakland Black Cowboy Association (OBCA) says it started in 1974. The very first Oakland Black Cowboy Parade happened in 1975. It was part of a special exhibit at the Oakland Museum of California called "Blacks in the West."
In 1976, the OBCA officially became a group. It was part of a larger organization called Blacks Unified to Motivate Progress. They worked with a business group called Oakland Traders to plan the next parade. The first grand marshal for the OBCA was Lonnie Scoggins. A grand marshal is a special leader chosen to ride at the front of a parade. Lonnie Scoggins was a former cowboy, and some people also say he helped start the group along with Booker Emery. Since 1977, the OBCA has been in charge of paying for and planning the parade.
What Does the OBCA Do?
The main goal of the OBCA is to teach everyone in Oakland and the Bay Area about the important part Black cowboys and other pioneers played in settling the American West. Besides putting on the parade and festival, the OBCA also goes to many community events. They work with Oakland's Parks, Recreation and Youth Development agency to offer activities.
Members of the OBCA also visit schools and churches to give presentations. They share stories and facts about Black cowboys. They have even helped with the census, which is how the government counts everyone living in an area.
About the Oakland Black Cowboy Parade and Festival
The Oakland Black Cowboy Parade and Festival takes place on the first weekend of October. It is held at DeFremery Park. During the parade, members of the OBCA and young people ride horses together. They even do special dances with their horses!
For example, in 2018 and 2019, the parades also included:
- Drill teams from local high schools and colleges.
- Groups that perform square dancing.
- A group from Seattle that acts out being Buffalo Soldiers. Buffalo Soldiers were African American soldiers who served in the U.S. Army.
- A group of Hispanic riders from San Jose.
- Girl Scouts.
- Circus groups.
The Legacy of the OBCA
The important papers and records of the Oakland Black Cowboy Association are kept at the African American Museum and Library at Oakland. This helps future generations learn about their work.
A writer named Ishmael Reed wrote a little bit about the OBCA and the parade in his book Blues City: A Walk in Oakland. In 2021, a short movie was made about the OBCA. It was created by James Manson and John Gamiño. The movie also featured Wilbert Freeman McAlister, who has been the president of the OBCA for a long time.
