The Compton Cowboys: The New Generation of Cowboys in America's Urban Heartland

By Walter Thompson-Hernández

Book Overview

"Thompson-Hern ndez's
portrayal of Compton's black cowboys broadens our perception of Compton's young
black residents, and connects the Compton Cowboys to the historical legacy of
African Americans in the west. An eye-opening, moving book."-- Margot Lee Shetterly, New
York Times bestselling author of Hidden Figures

"Walter Thompson-Hern ndez has written a book for the ages: a profound and moving account of what it means to be black in America that is awe inspiring in its truth-telling and limitless in its empathy. Here is an American epic of black survival and creativity, of terrible misfortune and everyday resilience, of grace, redemption and, yes, cowboys."-- Junot D az, Pulitzer prize-winning author of This is How You Lose Her

A rising New York Times reporter tells the compelling story of The Compton Cowboys, a group of African-American men and women who defy stereotypes and continue the proud, centuries-old tradition of black cowboys in the heart of one of America's most notorious cities.
In Compton, California, ten black riders on horseback cut an unusual profile, their cowboy hats tilted against the hot Los Angeles sun. They are the Compton Cowboys, their small ranch one of the very last in a formerly semirural area of the city that has been home to African-American horse riders for decades. To most people, Compton is known only as the home of rap greats NWA and Kendrick Lamar, hyped in the media for its seemingly intractable gang violence. But in 1988 Mayisha Akbar founded The Compton Jr. Posse to provide local youth with a safe alternative to the streets, one that connected them with the rich legacy of black cowboys in American culture. From Mayisha's youth organization came the Cowboys of today: black men and women from Compton for whom the ranch and the horses provide camaraderie, respite from violence, healing from trauma, and recovery from incarceration.
The Cowboys include Randy, Mayisha's nephew, faced with the daunting task of remaking the Cowboys for a new generation; Anthony, former drug dealer and inmate, now a family man and mentor, Keiara, a single mother pursuing her dream of winning a national rodeo championship, and a tight clan of twentysomethings--Kenneth, Keenan, Charles, and Tre--for whom horses bring the freedom, protection, and status that often elude the young black men of Compton.
The Compton Cowboys is a story about trauma and transformation, race and identity, compassion, and ultimately, belonging. Walter Thompson-Hern ndez paints a unique and unexpected portrait of this city, pushing back against stereotypes to reveal an urban community in all its complexity, tragedy, and triumph.
The Compton Cowboys is illustrated with 10-15 photographs.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0062910612
• ISBN13: 9780062910615
• Release Date: March 2021
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Well

The writing is sophomoric and surface level. I’m not sure how this is anything more than a newspaper write up.

I thought about this book for days after finishing it

As a narrative, I thought this book could have been better in places. It was hard to figure out the timeline of events the book covered. However, this book took my breath away as a real, sympathetic portrait of the Compton Cowboys and life in Compton. I couldn’t stop thinking about this book and about the Cowboys. There are horses in the books, but only a few discussions of anything equestrian. Most of the book focuses on the human characters of the Cowboys and their family, friends, and city. There is enough language and smoking/drinking/mature themes that I wouldn’t recommend this book to young teens and you might be a little embarrassed if you buy this book for your mom without reading it first (depending on the mom of course).