Description
The Oakland Black Cowboy Association Records consist of administrative records, flyers, posters, videocassette recordings,
clothing, and photographs documenting mostly the Oakland Black Cowboy Parade between 1976-2018.
Background
The Oakland Black Cowboy Association was established in 1976 as part of the preparation for the Oakland Black Cowboy Parade.
The mission of the association is to “educate all the citizens of Oakland and the Bay Area about the role played by Black
cowboys and other pioneers in the settling of the American West.” The association is governed by a board of directors whose
primary duty is to plan and raise funds for the annual Oakland Black Cowboy Parade. The first parade was held in 1975 as part
of the Oakland Museum’s exhibit, “Blacks in the West,” and was sponsored by the Oakland Museum Cultural and Ethnic Affairs
Guild. The following year the parade was co-sponsored by a group of local businessmen, Oakland Traders, and the parent organization
of the Oakland Black Cowboy Association, Blacks Unified to Motivate Progress (B.U.M.P.). Since 1977, the Oakland Black Cowboy
Association has funded and planned the parade each year. The parade has traditionally been held in October each year and the
parade route begins and ends in DeFremery Park in West Oakland.
Extent
6.75 linear feet
(6 boxes + 2 oversized boxes)
Restrictions
Permission to publish from the Oakland Black Cowboy Association Records must be obtained from the African American Museum
& Library at Oakland.
Availability
No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.