Historian John Ferguson documents the lives of modern - day black cowboy . Historians now estimate up to one in four cowboys in the West were African - American . Historian : The black cowboy played a crucial role in shaping the American West . In America : Top-ranked polo players hail from Philadelphia 's inner city . Were cattle - herding slaves labelled ` ` white - boys '' where the cowboy originated ?
Historian John Ferguson documents the lives of modern - day black cowboy . Historians now estimate up to one in four cowboys in the West were African - American . Historian : The black cowboy played a crucial role in shaping the American West . Were cattle - herding slaves labelled ` ` white - boys '' where the cowboy originated ?