A Brief History of the Compton Cowboys and Their Potential Super Bowl Spotlight
A Brief History of the Compton Cowboys and Their Potential Super Bowl Spotlight
The Super Bowl is one of the most-watched sporting events in the world. It’s held annually on the first Sunday in February, marking the culmination of the NFL season. But apart from the sport, the event is also known for its halftime show: a major cultural event featuring A-list performers and surprise collaborations, all backed by massive productions. Though the halftime show has always been a part of the Super Bowl, it wasn’t focused on A-list performers until 1993, when Michael Jackson revolutionized the halftime.
As a result, the halftime show is now a standalone event that’s often as anticipated as the game itself, and for this year’s occasion, Kendrick Lamar will be the headline act for the Super Bowl LIX halftime show. Of course, this isn’t his first Super Bowl; he participated in the 2022 halftime show alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige. The American rapper, songwriter, and producer is the first non-classical or jazz musician to receive a Pulitzer Prize for Music, and he’s considered one of the most influential artists of his generation, so it’s not really a surprise that he’s headlining the show.
However, Lamar’s upcoming performance — while certainly the defining moment of the halftime show — might not be solely about the music. It could serve as an opportunity to shine a light on Compton’s rich culture. Despite negative characterizations in pop culture, Compton is rich in Black culture, resilience, and artistic expression, and Lamar often explores these dualities through his music. But he’s not the only one uplifting Compton; the Compton Cowboys are doing the same. Given their potential appearance at the halftime show, we’re taking this opportunity to learn more about their history.
Due to the aforementioned negative portrayals in pop culture, people often associate Compton with hip-hop, gang culture, social inequalities, and economic struggles. However, horses have been a part of the city’s history for decades, and Compton has deep roots in Black cowboy culture. This challenges both the mainstream perception of the city and the role of African Americans in equestrian history — especially since Black Cowboys have been a vital part of American history, whose contributions are greatly overlooked.
Most people only learned about white cowboys who roamed the frontier, herded cattle, and got into occasional gunfights with bandits and Native Americans — a false notion that was reinforced through cinema. However, historical facts say otherwise; the reality was more diverse, and the equestrian history of the West wasn’t exclusively white. There were Black cowboys. In fact, after white ranchers left to fight in the Civil War, slaves developed ranching skills, and as a consequence, one in four cowboys was Black.
After the Emancipation Proclamation, these newly skilled cattle herders found work moving livestock. However, their stories remain omitted from the pages of history. Fast forward to modern times, and Compton is now home to the Compton Cowboys, a group of Black equestrians who continue to challenge the stereotypes about their community and their city. Since Compton was shaped by systemic challenges, gang violence and drugs weren’t uncommon routes for kids to find themselves going down. In response, Mayisha Akbar founded the Compton Jr. Posse Youth Equestrian Program — an NPO in Richland Farms — in the 1980s with the idea of providing local youth with a safe alternative to the streets.
From this organization came the Compton Cowboys, and many of its members actually found their way to the organization by engaging and interacting with other cowboys riding through their neighborhoods or through family and friends’ recommendations. The Cowboys still work to provide a safe alternative and present as positive role models to inner-city youth, helping them find a path away from gangs and crime while also providing mentorship through horseback riding and equestrian culture and lifestyle.
Their influence now extends into the media, where the Compton Cowboys are at the forefront of challenging stereotypes about African Americans. Through their growing presence, they not only reshape perceptions but also highlight the broader issue of under-representation in the cowboy and rodeo world. This struggle for visibility echoes the experiences of many Black pioneers, including the legendary Bill Pickett, whose contributions remain largely overlooked despite their significance.
The Compton Cowboys, much like their predecessors, continue to ride through city streets to raise awareness. They also participate in parades and compete in various events. Given that Super Bowl halftime shows have historically featured performers such as drill teams and marching bands, there’s a compelling case for including the Compton Cowboys in this year’s performance. With the 2025 Super Bowl set to take place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, which has a capacity of 83,000 spectators, and an anticipated television audience exceeding 120 million viewers, their inclusion could significantly enhance their visibility and amplify their message.
It could also strengthen local community support while helping to reshape historical narratives, bringing greater recognition to the vital role African Americans have played in the equestrian history of the United States.
The post A Brief History of the Compton Cowboys and Their Potential Super Bowl Spotlight appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.