This is a photograph of a real black cowboy. His name was Nat Love – “nat” pronounced “Nat-e” and he was known as “Deadwood Dick.” He got his name from a riding contest in Deadwood, Dakota Territory – not yet states – on July 4, 1876. Born a slave, he left home at 16 and headed west. He lived a life of adventure – some of it true – and published his autobiography in 1907 entitled Life and Adventures of Nat Love, Better Known in the Cattle Country as ‘Deadwood Dick,’ by Himself. He died in Los Angeles in 1921 at age 67. For the historical record, about 40% of the cowboys were black – contrary to how Hollywood has portrayed cowboys on the silver screen.