'Black Cowboys: An American Story' Exhibition Opens at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum

The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum announces a new special exhibition, Black Cowboys: An American Story, which will be on view from October 9, 2026 to April 18, 2027. This powerful exhibition explores the lives and work of enslaved and free Black men, women, and children who labored on Texas ranches and participated in cattle drives from before the Civil War through the turn of the twentieth century.

Black Cowboys: An American Story, created by the Witte Museum in San Antonio, Texas, illuminates the pivotal yet often overlooked role of Black cowboys in shaping the American frontier. Comprising one in four cowboys on the trail, these skilled horsemen, lawmen, and entrepreneurs were instrumental in driving Texas' economic growth. Visitors can explore a curated collection of personal artifacts, photographs, and more that bridges history with the present, honoring the grit and legacy of those who defined the West and continue to inspire American culture today.

"Black Cowboys: An American Story is a powerful exhibition that brings to life the remarkable men, women, and children who played a vital role in shaping the American West despite facing immense adversity," said Mary Pat Higgins, president and CEO of the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum. "By bringing these too-often overlooked stories to North Texas, we hope visitors of all ages leave with a deeper appreciation of the American West's history, and an understanding of how expanding our view of our shared past can challenge assumptions and help us better understand one another today."

Museum visitors will discover how Black cowboys tamed and trained horses, tended livestock and rode on the trail with thousands of cattle across America. Over time, the role of Black cowboys evolved as they used the skills they learned on the ranch and trail to establish their own ranches, serve as lawmen, ride in rodeos, become singers, and perform in movies. Today, the lives and legacies of Black cowboys have inspired new generations to explore the past through music, film, fashion, and design.

Unique to the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum is a special section honoring the late Cleo Hearn, based in Lancaster, Texas, who passed away in 2025, celebrating his lifelong dedication to reclaiming the place of Black cowboys in the West. Hearn was the co-founder of the American Black Cowboy Association, the founder of the Cowboys of Color Rodeo, and known as "Mr. Black Rodeo." The exhibit showcases some of his personal artifacts including a prize saddle, boots, spurs, and photographs that bring his remarkable legacy to life.

"The individual stories of Black cowboys, illustrating courage in the face of discrimination, skill, despite great odds, and success through generations as ranchers and leaders in their field are powerful," said Michelle Everidge, Ph.D., CEO and President of the Witte Museum, which organized the exhibition. "The Witte Museum was privileged to work closely with an outstanding steering committee and advisors, including community leaders, scholars and Black cowboys and ranchers, to create this unparalleled exhibition, which reveals what life was like for Black cowboys during this time."

The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum extends its gratitude to the Jean Baptiste "Tad" Adoue III Fund of The Dallas Foundation, with additional support from American Airlines, Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District, H-E-B/Central Market, and NFI Industries for their generous contributions to this special exhibition.

Black Cowboys: An American Story was developed by the Witte Museum, San Antonio (WitteMuseum.org). The exhibition is presented by Bank of America and generously supported by the John L. Santikos Charitable Fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation, H-E-B and Ed Rachal Foundation.

Black Cowboys: An American Story will run October 9 through April 18 at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum. Tickets can be reserved at dhhrm.org/black-cowboys-an-american-story

About the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum
The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum teaches the history of the Holocaust and advances human rights to combat prejudice, hatred, and indifference. Founded in 1984 by Holocaust survivors, the Museum serves as an educational center for the community. The Museum has three educational wings highlighting Holocaust history and human rights violations that shaped our world; a Dimensions in Testimony Theater featuring an opportunity to interact directly with a holographic image of a Holocaust survivor; a 250-seat theater with daily screenings and regular special events, and a rotating special exhibition gallery. Through powerful exhibitions, engaging programs, and grade-appropriate resources, the Museum inspires students and visitors to become Upstanders who make a positive difference. Visit DHHRM.org or call (214) 741-7500 for more information.

Al Roker Entertainment Produces Docudrama Celebrating The Contributions Of African American Cowboys

Freedom on the Range is an original INSP docudrama produced by Al Roker Entertainment that features the contributions of African American Cowboys to the American West.

The docudrama is set to premiere on INSP on Saturday, February 26th at 7PM ET. The announcement was made by Craig Miller, VP of Original Programming & Development for INSP.

“The significant contributions of African American cowboys in the shaping of America have largely gone unnoticed,” said Miller. “In Freedom on the Range, we pay tribute to these unsung groundbreakers by telling the true stories of some of the most courageous trailblazers that helped tame the American West. While these are not household names to most of us, their stories are fascinating and need to be told as part of our nation’s history. This is a show that audiences don’t want to miss.”

A celebration of the frontier spirit, Freedom on the Range is a one-hour special that highlights five legendary Black cowboys who helped tame the Old West: Nat Love, Bose Ikard, Bass Reeves, Bill Pickett, and George McJunkin. These men made their way to the Western Frontier and discovered a new sense of freedom that allowed them to rise above the legacy of slavery and transcend the color barriers of their time. Nat Love penned a best-selling autobiography, and Bose Ikard became the inspiration for a beloved character in a famous Western novel. Bass Reeves transformed himself into one of the West’s greatest lawmen, Bill Pickett became an iconic rodeo star, and George McJunkin made what turned out to be one of the country’s most significant archeological discoveries. These heroes continue to inspire a new generation of Black cowboys who are keeping that frontier spirit alive and well.

Miller continued: “It’s been a pleasure working with Al Roker’s team on this project. They really dug into the material, researched this little-known part or our nation’s history, and made sure the stories were told with accuracy, authenticity, and impact.”“I grew up in an era when westerns ruled TV; Bonanza and Gunsmoke were must-watch TV, and then later, films like Buck and the Preacher, with the late Sidney Poitier,” noted Roker. “Since then, I’ve been captivated by the role African Americans played in shaping this country, post-Civil War. When I was approached to have my team at Al Roker Entertainment tell the true stories of America’s black cowboys, I jumped at the opportunity to set the record straight and give accurate historical context to these courageous pioneers.”

Freedom on the Range premieres Saturday, February 26th at 7PM ET on INSP.

INSP is a general-entertainment television network that is available nationwide to more than 62.3M households via MVPDs including DISH (channel 259), DIRECTV (channel 364), Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum, National Cable Television COOP (NCTC), Verizon Fios (channel 286), AT&T U-verse (channel 564); on vMVPDs including SLING TV, Fubo TV, Philo TV, FRNDLY TV, Vidco, Select TV, Evoca TV and more than 2,800 cable systems.