Oakland parade showcases black cowboy culture
on October 7, 2013
A black horse pranced down the street, following commands of its rider who reigned it away from cheering spectators. Gripping the microphone, emcee Wilbert McAlister, the president of the Oakland Black Cowboy Association, cajoled the horse to show the audience its tricks.
Over a dozen horses and riders joined the 39th Annual Oakland Black Cowboy Association parade on Saturday, a two-mile ride that began at DeFremery Park and continued through West Oakland, ending with a festival in the park.
Zydeco music and the smell of grilled hamburgers wafted through the air as children in cowboy hats danced on the side of the street.
The parade and festival celebrated the often untold history of black cowboys and cowgirls, including the black soldiers in the 10th U.S. Calvary Regiment, called Buffalo Soldiers, who helped to forge the West.
Along with celebrating a unique facet of African American history, the parade also served as a continuation of family traditions.
Some of the riders who joined the parade started riding horses shortly after they began walking. Dylan Matthew, 9, took an interest in horses after his dad brought home toy horses for him to play with when he was two years old. Although four people in Dylan’s family ride horses he said, “My dad is the best. I’m the second best.”
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- A member of the Oakland Black Cowboy Association stops on the parade route in West Oakland to greet children.
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- Participants in the 39th Annual Oakland Black Cowboy Association parade and festival look at the parade route ahead.
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- A member speaks to the riders during the procession.
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- The annual Oakland Black Cowboy Parade is a celebration of an often overlooked portion of African American history.
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- Dylan Matthew (left) waits while traffic is cleared so that the parade can continue.
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- A rider awaits his turn to perform a trick during the parade finale.
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- Dylan Matthew, 9, started riding horses when he was two-years-old.
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- Imani James,19, has been riding horses since she was three years old. “My mom took me to a ranch when I was a baby and I loved it,” James said.
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- A contestant talks to friends while he waits for the competition at the end of the parade.
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- One participant observes the spectators at the end of the parade route.
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- Wilbert McAlister(right), the president of the Oakland Black Cowboy Association, congratulates a contestant at the end of the parade.
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- Wilbert McAlister takes a moment to talk to the audience.
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- A rider and his horse perform a trick during the competition.
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- A family enjoys the Oakland Black Cowboy Association’s festival at DeFremery Park after the parade.
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Oakland North is an online news service produced by students at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and covering Oakland, California. Our goals are to improve local coverage, innovate with digital media, and listen to you–about the issues that concern you and the reporting you’d like to see in your community. Please send news tips to: oaklandnorthstaff@gmail.com.
Incorrect photo of buffalo soldier.I’m sure I saw one in uniform? GREAT Parade and Fun times