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Description

Robert H. Miller, Ph.D., presented Pharaohs to Cowboys: A Legacy Reclaimed at Portland State University's Pan African Commons on April 21, 2026.

When you think of a “cowboy” today, very few people would associate that name’s exclusivity to African American men. The name carries a heavy weight characterized by people with a particular job description. What is a cowboy? Where did they originate? Were African men cowboys in Africa before they were brought to America and enslaved?

Pharaohs to Cowboys explores the history of training and breeding horses and cattle in Egypt, Nubia, Songhai, Sokoto and other West African countries, and how enslaved Africans who brought these skills were named the first "cowboys." Their legacy was continued by historical figures such as Bill Pickett, Nat Love, “Stagecoach” Mary Fields, and other outstanding Black men and women who helped tame and build the foundation of the American West.

Robert Miller grew up in Portland, Oregon, hearing stories from his mother about his great-uncles Ed and Joe Cloud, who were Black cowboys—stories he never saw reflected in the Western films he loved. As an adult, he began researching the Black West and discovered a rich history of Black cowboys and communities that have been largely overlooked. Inspired to share these stories, Miller created the Reflections of a Black Cowboy book series to bring the legacy of Black cowboys, soldiers, and pioneers to new generations.

Date

4-21-2026

Comments

Sponsored by Portland State University Department of Black Studies, Black Studies Center, and Pan African Commons.

The video recording of this presentation begins mid-program, following the speaker's introduction and opening remarks. Please refer to the transcript for a summary of the start of the talk.

A selection from Black Stories Untold: "The Forgotten BLACK Cowboys You Never Knew About" (2023) is included in this presentation.

Recorded on Zoom. Captions for this video are auto-generated and may contain inaccuracies.

Rights

This video is made available for educational and non-commercial use only. It may not be reproduced in any form without the express permission of Portland State University. For more information, please contact Portland State University Library Special Collections at: specialcollections@pdx.edu.

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/44681

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