Howdy cowpoke and cowpoke-ettes, seeing as how Queen Bey has ushered us into our #YeeHawEra thanks to her newly released album “Cowboy Carter,” we felt it fitting to provide you with a list of films you can draw inspiration from to make this new stage of your lives that much more authentic.
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I mean, Bey herself admitted to drawing inspiration from films like Jeymes Samuel’s “The Harder They Fall” to bring some flavor and style from the genre into the new age. So if that sounds like a rootin’, tootin’ good time to you and something you’re interested in too—get ready to saddle up and crank on any of these Black western/cowboy-centric films.
“The Harder They Fall”
When outlaw Nat Love discovers that his enemy Rufus Buck is being released from prison, he rounds up his gang to track Rufus down and seek revenge. Those riding with him include: former love Stagecoach Mary, right and left hand men Bill Pickett and quick-draw Jim Beckwourth—and a surprising adversary-turned-ally. Rufus Buck has his own fearsome crew, including: “Treacherous” Trudy Smith and Cherokee Bill.
The all-Black cast stars Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Regina King, LaKeith Stanfield, RJ Cyler, Danielle Deadwyler, Edi Gathegi, Delroy Lindo and more.
“Concrete Cowboy”
When fifteen year-old Cole is expelled from school in Detroit, he is sent to North Philly to live with Harp, his estranged father. Harp finds solace in rehabilitating horses for inner city cowboys at the Fletcher Street Stables, a real-life black urban horsemanship community that has provided a safe haven for the neighborhood residents for more than 100 years. Torn between his growing respect for his father’s community and his reemerging friendship with troubled cousin Smush, Cole begins to reprioritize his life as the stables themselves are threatened by encroaching gentrification.
The film stars Caleb McLaughlin, Idris Elba, Jharrel Jerome, Lorraine Touissant, and Clifford “Method Man” Smith.
“The Hateful 8"
Starring Samuel L. Jackson, “The Hateful 8" follows a bounty hunter and his prisoner as they find shelter in a cabin currently inhabited by a collection of nefarious characters during a cold winter in Wyoming.
The film also stars Kurt Russell, Channing Tatum, Walton Goggins and more.
“Outlaw Johnny Black”
Per the film’s official synopsis, “Outlaw Johnny Black” tells the story of the aforementioned Black who’s hellbent on avenging the death of his father. Because of that, he vows to gun down Brett Clayton and subsequently becomes a wanted man in the process. To help cover his identity, he poses as a preacher in a small mining town that’s been taken over by a notorious Land Baron.
The film stars Michael Jai White, Anika Noni Rose, Erica Ash, Kym Whitley, Tommy Davidson and more.
“Surrounded”
Starring “Black Panther’s” Letitia Wright, “Surrounded” is set five years after the Civil War where, freedwoman and former Buffalo Soldier Moses “Mo” Washington, travels west to lay claim on a gold mine- the summation of years of toil for Mo and her community. Mo travels into the deep frontier disguised as a man due to the dangers of being a Black woman in 1870's America. But after her stagecoach is ambushed by a group of murderous thieves, Mo is forced to hold legendary outlaw Tommy Walsh captive while the remaining surviving passengers seek out help. What ensues is a battle of wills, blurring the line between captor and captive, as they both try to survive the harsh western landscape.
“Posse”
Per the film’s official description, “Posse” takes place in 1898 Cuba, where five Buffalo Soldiers find a gold cache, desert and return to America where they help defend a black town from the KKK. All the while, they try to avoid capture by lawmen and military authorities alike.
The film stars Mario Van Peebles, Pam Grier, Blair Underwood, Isaac Hayes and more.
“The Magnificent 7"
Yet another ensemble cast, only this time led by Denzel Washington, “The Magnificent 7" tells the story of seven gunmen from different backgrounds who are brought together by a vengeful young widow to protect her town from the private army of a destructive industrialist.
“Wild, Wild West”
Starring Will Smith, “Wild, Wild West” centers around two top-knotch special agents in the Wild West who must save President Ulysses S. Grant from the clutches of a diabolical, wheelchair-bound Confederate scientist hellbent on revenge after losing the Civil War.
(Author note: this one was one of my favorite movies growing up and in hindsight, I’m not sure it should’ve been. It’s not that it’s HORRIBLE, it’s just not that good.)
“Gang of Roses”
Starring an mostly-female cast comprised of Monica Calhoun, LisaRaye McCoy, Lil’ Kim, Stacey Dash and Bobby Brown, “Gang of Roses” tells the story of a gang of gold-hunting outlaws, headed by the ruthless Left Eye Watkins (Brown), who take over the peaceful town of Flatridge, tearing the sleepy outpost to shreds as they search for riches. After they murder a can-can girl, who just so happens to be the sister of Rachel (Calhoun), the onetime leader of a notorious all-girl gang, she rounds up her four old associates and seek revenge.
“Buck and the Preacher”
Perhaps one of the best known Black Westerns, “Buck and the Preacher” stars late acting and civil rights icons Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte. The film centers a wagon master (Poitier) and a con-man preacher (Belafonte) who help freed slaves dogged by cheap-labor agents out West.
“Harlem Rides the Range”
An early contribution, “Harlem Rides the Range” tells the story of a cowboy and his sidekick who try to help a homesteader from being cheated out of his property.
The 1939 film starred Herb Jeffrey, Spencer Williams and more.
“Boss Nigger”
Released in 1974, this Blaxploitation Western film tells the story of bounty hunters “Boss” and his Sidekick Amos who come to an entirely white town in the West and take up the vacant offices of sheriff and deputy. They are ostensibly hunting for the large bounty on the head of the man who’s been terrorizing the town, but not before laying down some laws of their own, reversing the double standards deeply ingrained in the racist white community.
The film stars Fred Williamson, D’Urville Martin and more.
“Django Unchained”
Encompassing a star-studded cast led by Jamie Foxx, “Django Unchained” is set in the South two years before the Civil War. Per the official synopsis, the film centers a slave whose brutal history with his former owners lands him face-to-face with german-born bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz. Schultz himself is on the trail of the muderous Brittle brothers, and only Django can lead him to his bounty. The unorthodox Schultz acquires Django with a promise to free him upon the capture of the Brittles—dead or alive.
The film stars Foxx, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson Leonardo DiCaprio and more.
“Outlaw Posse”
A followup to the aforementioned “Posse,” Mario Van Peebles’ Chief returns from years of hiding in Mexico to claim stolen gold hidden in the hills of Montana. In his quest, he reunites an ensemble of fresh & familiar faces - together they fight off Angel, whose rationale to the gold leaves a trail of deception and dead bodies.
The film stars Mario Van Peebles, son Mandela Van Peebles, Whoopi Goldberg, D.C. Young Fly, Cedric the Entertainer and more.
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