In this young readers' edition, 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-Hernández 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.
In addition to reading about the Compton Cowboys, kids will get to see
them and the horses that saved their lives. This book includes an 8-page
insert of color photos by the author, Whiting Grant winner and New York
Times reporter Walter Thompson-Hernández.
