Compton Cowboys Lead Revival of Black Western Heritage as Beyoncé Tour Approaches

As Beyoncé prepares to bring her “Cowboy Carter” tour to Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium on April 28, the spotlight is turning to Los Angeles’ own Black cowboy culture, with Compton’s equestrian community riding at the forefront of a national movement to reclaim this overlooked chapter of American history.

“When this Black West trend ends, we want to make sure there’s a flagpole in the ground that says the Black West is here. It’s not just a trend. It’s real,” says Randy Savvy, founder of the Compton Cowboys, a collective of lifelong friends using horseback riding to uplift their community.

Based in Richland Farms, a unique rural pocket of Compton where residents still raise livestock and ride horses, the Compton Cowboys evolved from the Compton Jr. Posse, a local horse program founded by Mayisha Akbar in 1988, now known as Compton Jr. Equestrians (CJE). For more than three decades, these organizations have been keeping youth on horses and off the streets, offering mentorship, career training, and positive alternatives to gang culture.

The Cowboys’ influence continues to expand, with an upcoming appearance at Stagecoach, the massive country music festival in Indio, where they’ll represent Black cowboy culture on a national stage. Their work takes on added significance as Beyoncé’s album has reignited interest in the contributions of Black cowboys and cowgirls to American Western heritage.

During the recent LA wildfires, the Compton Cowboys mobilized to help evacuate and care for horses in danger, demonstrating their community service beyond cultural representation. They’ve also completed emergency response training to be ready for future crises.

The timing of Beyoncé’s tour stop in Inglewood coincides with several exhibitions and events celebrating this heritage. The Autry Museum’s upcoming exhibition, “Black Cowboys: An American Story,” will showcase rare artifacts and photographs documenting the often-erased history of Black contributions to cowboy culture. Meanwhile, Rancho Los Cerritos in Long Beach is currently hosting “Untold Legacies: Rethinking the American Cowboy,” featuring works by local artists exploring this cultural legacy.

For those inspired to experience Black cowboy culture firsthand, several local organizations offer opportunities. Urban Saddles, a Black-led nonprofit, hosts Saddle Up Saturdays with hands-on programs teaching horsemanship and agricultural skills. Cali Cowboy Co. organizes moonlit trail rides in the Hansen Dam area, with their public Cinco de Mayo celebration set for May 3 at Gibson Ranch.

The inaugural Charlie Sampson Rodeo, named for the Watts-born bull rider who became the first Black man to win a world championship in professional rodeo, will take place on June 28 in Norco. “I’m doing this for my fallen friends,” says Sampson, now 67. “They were part of this community, this culture. They deserve to be remembered.”

For Compton and Inglewood residents interested in learning to ride, DeBoraha Townson, a six-time Bill Pickett Invitational champion and the first Black woman to compete in the International Professional Rodeo finals, offers horseback riding lessons at her ranch in Agua Dulce.

The Bill Pickett Rodeo, named for the Black cowboy who invented steer wrestling, has already sold out its July stop in Los Angeles County, demonstrating the surging interest in this cultural heritage. The rodeo celebrates 40 years in 2025 as the longest-running Black rodeo in the United States.

From Richland Farms in Compton to Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium, Black cowboy culture is riding high in Los Angeles, reclaiming its rightful place in American history and offering local residents multiple ways to connect with this rich heritage.