Cowboys, Outlaws, Buffalo Soldiers, Lawmen....
March 11, 2021 9:25 AM   Subscribe

Freelance writer Zaron Burnett is producing a podcast on Black figures of the Old West, Black Cowboys.

Burnett 's father wanted him to know that the history of Black people in the United States was not limited to slavery. So he told the young Burnett stories about figures from the Old West, and the podcast is passing those stories on. Burnett frequently interviews his father about the subject of the episode, with the older Burnett bringing his own style to the discussion.

So far, the podcast has covered:
Nat Love
Cherokee Bill
Bass Reeves

This isn't strictly a "history podcast." While the historical figures are at the center of each episode, current events, Burnett's family, and the various myths of America make frequent appearances, and Burnett's fondness for the stories and his subjects shines through, although he doesn't hesitate to draw attention to their uglier sides.

Episodes are around 50 minutes and are available on most podcast platforms. Minor warning: like all iHeartRadio podcasts, there are frequent ad breaks.
posted by GenjiandProust (8 comments total) 13 users marked this as a favorite
 
Local favourite: John Ware.
posted by No Robots at 10:00 AM on March 11, 2021 [1 favorite]


This sounds great, and sort of along the same lines (but both fictional and historical), the Criterion Channel recently added a selection of Black Westerns, curated by film professor Mia Mask, who teaches classes on African American cinema, genre films, etc. The trailer is on Youtube.
posted by Wobbuffet at 10:03 AM on March 11, 2021 [4 favorites]


How Bass Reeve's story has never hit Hollywood just baffles me. Truly epic badass. One of the inspirations for the Lone Ranger. Arrested his own son for murder!
posted by gottabefunky at 2:00 PM on March 11, 2021 [2 favorites]


How Bass Reeve's story has never hit Hollywood just baffles me.

And how all his efforts were basically pissed on by the President and Congress giving up on Reconstruction like the short-sighted cowards they were.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:09 PM on March 11, 2021 [2 favorites]


On the fictional end, it seems in april there'll be a netflix release of an urban cowboy movie starring that boy from stranger things and Idris Elba... I saw a blurb for it... Here's the trailer: Concrete Cowboy

Re: Bass Reeves and Hollywood - I'm hoping with the increased awareness following 2019's Watchmen specifically referencing him in their narrative means something is in the pipeline.
posted by cendawanita at 5:06 PM on March 11, 2021 [2 favorites]


Bass Reeves also shows up as a character in Elizabeth Bear's Karen Memory.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 7:57 PM on March 11, 2021 [1 favorite]


The NFB has a great film about John Ware, free here for Canadian IPs.
posted by Superilla at 10:36 PM on March 11, 2021 [1 favorite]


Coming in to second the rec for the Criterion series, especially the jaw-dropping (not kidding) Sergeant Rutledge. Some of the dialogue from that film would probably not be included today because it's too radical in the good sense.

Make sure to watch the 15 minute film in which the curator, Black film scholar Mia Mask, talks about the films and more.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 4:30 AM on March 12, 2021 [1 favorite]


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