Jordan Peele’s ‘High Horse: The Black Cowboy’ Doc Sheds Light On An Erased Part of History

December 11, 2025

The new three-part docuseries "High Horse: The Black Cowboy," executive produced by Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw Productions, examines the historical erasure of Black cowboys from American culture and mythology. The series, which extends themes from Peele's 2022 film "Nope," reveals that one in four cowboys in the late 19th century were Black, despite comprising a much smaller portion of the overall U.S. population, and that "cowboy" was originally a racist term distinguishing Black men from white "cowhands. " Featuring appearances by hip-hop artist Bun B, actors Glynn Turman and Pam Grier, and others, the documentary uses archival footage to provide historical context while documenting vibrant contemporary Black cowboy communities across America.

Who is affected

Black cowboys and cowboy communities across America
Bun B (hip-hop artist and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo ambassador)
Glynn Turman, Pam Grier, Tina Knowles, Rick Ross (appearing in the series)
Jordan Peele and Monkeypaw Productions
Black Americans facing policy impacts from the Trump administration
Descendants of Black landowners from the post-slavery Reconstruction era
Beyoncé, Lil Nas X, and other Black artists embracing cowboy culture

What action is being taken

The three-part docuseries "High Horse: The Black Cowboy" is streaming on Peacock
The series is documenting Black cowboy communities and their struggles and triumphs
The project is examining the historical erasure of Black cowboys through archival footage and photos
Raphael Saadiq is providing the original score for the series

Why it matters

This docuseries addresses a significant gap in American historical understanding by revealing that Black people were the first Americans called cowboys and comprised one in four cowboys in the late 19th century, despite popular culture portraying cowboys as exclusively white. The project arrives at a critical time when the erasure of Black contributions to American history is being compounded by contemporary policies that disproportionately affect Black Americans, including elimination of DEI programs and cuts to federal benefits. By recontextualizing the American cowboy narrative, the series provides a more accurate and complete picture of American history that benefits all Americans, not just Black communities. The docuseries also addresses ongoing battles Black citizens face with land ownership issues dating back to Reconstruction, connecting historical injustices to present-day challenges.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint