In 2022, Mr. Calhoun spent five days at a Colorado ranch, which proved to him that it wasn’t his ideal permanent lifestyle. However, the experience taught him, as a Black individual, that he could personally enjoy the western landscapes that he had admired on television. This realization was quite different from his feelings while watching westerns during his upbringing.
He mentioned, “I watched ‘Young Guns’ countless times, but there wasn’t much representation of people like me.”
Although the West is a geographical location, it also represents an evolving concept. In the midst of the current resurgence of cowboy culture, the western genre, a longstanding staple in cinema, is being reimagined for a growing and diverse audience.
According to Comscore, which compiles box office data, Hollywood produced 23 western films from 2000 to 2009. This number significantly increased to 42 from 2010 to 2019. Many of these modern films showcase Black cowboys, Native American protagonists, LGBTQ+ heroes, and empowered women who are far from being damsels in distress. Furthermore, female filmmakers, such as Jane Campion, have directed some of these movies. In fact, Campion’s 2021 film “The Power of the Dog,” featuring a likely closeted rancher, received the highest number of Academy Award nominations last year.
Growing up, Alaina Roberts, an American historian and author of “I’ve Been Here All the While: Black Freedom on Native Land,” was familiar with the classic imagery depicted in western films, such as Davy Crockett wrestling a bear and John Wayne stoically squinting in the Texas dust. These were the films her mother adored.
However, when Dr. Roberts embarked on her own scholarly career, her fascination with the West took a different direction. Instead of the traditional narratives, she became determined to uncover the stories of her own Black family members who were enslaved by the Chickasaw and Choctaw tribes in what is now Ardmore, Okla. She also developed a deep interest in the Buffalo Soldiers, courageous all-Black regiments who played an essential role in enforcing law and order on the plains.
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