Black rodeo : a history of the African American western

African American westerns have a rich cinematic history and visual culture. Mia Mask examines the African American western hero within the larger context of film history by considering how Black westerns evolved and approached wide-ranging goals. Woody Strode's 1950s transformation from football star to actor was the harbinger of hard-edged western heroes later played by Jim Brown and Fred Williamson. Sidney Poitier's Buck and the Preacher provided a narrative helmed by a groundbreaking African American director and offered unconventionally rich roles for women. Mask moves from these discussions to consider blaxploitation westerns and an analysis of Jeff Kanew's hard-to-find 1972 documentary about an all-Black rodeo. The book addresses how these movies set the stage for modern-day westploitation films like Django Unchained . A first-of-its kind survey, Black Rodeo illuminates the figure of the Black cowboy while examining the intersection of African American film history and the western. |Acknowledgments Introduction Football Heroes Invade Hollywood Black Masculinity on Horseback: From Duel at Diablo to Buck and the Preacher Blaxplotation versus Black Liberation: The Charley Trilogy Harlem Rides the Range: Nobody Told You There Were Black Cowboys Westerns and Westploitation: Brothas and Sistas at the O.K. Corral Appendix: Interview with Jeff Kanew Notes Filmography Bibliography Index | "Richly researched. . . . This carefully crafted academic treatment will enhance library shelves." — Library Journal (starred review) "Mask provides an insightful commentary on the Civil Rights era and its African-American-themed Westerns from today's perspective."—Angela Aleiss, author of Hollywood's Native Americans: Stories of Identity and Resistance | Mia Mask is a professor of film at Vassar College, where she holds the Mary Riepma Ross 1932 endowed chair of film. She has appeared on CNN's The Movies , the Smithsonian Channel, the Criterion Channel, and has provided commentary on National Public Radio. Her books include Poitier Revisited: Reconsidering a Black Icon in the Obama Age and Divas on Screen: Black Women in American Film . African American westerns have a rich cinematic history and visual culture. Mia Mask examines the African American western hero within the larger context of film history by considering how Black westerns evolved and approached wide-ranging goals. Woody Strode's 1950s transformation from football star to actor was the harbinger of hard-edged western heroes later played by Jim Brown and Fred Williamson. Sidney Poitier's Buck and the Preacher provided a narrative helmed by a groundbreaking African American director and offered unconventionally rich roles for women. Mask moves from these discussions to consider blaxploitation westerns and an analysis of Jeff Kanew's hard-to-find 1972 documentary about an all-Black rodeo. The book addresses how these movies set the stage for modern-day westploitation films like Django Unchained . A first-of-its kind survey, Black Rodeo illuminates the figure of the Black cowboy while examining the intersection of African American film history and the western. |Acknowledgments Introduction Football Heroes Invade Hollywood Black Masculinity on Horseback: From Duel at Diablo to Buck and the Preacher Blaxplotation versus Black Liberation: The Charley Trilogy Harlem Rides the Range: Nobody Told You There Were Black Cowboys Westerns and Westploitation: Brothas and Sistas at the O.K. Corral Appendix: Interview with Jeff Kanew Notes Filmography Bibliography Index |"This is a book for movie buffs, Black history enthusiasts, and anyone who appreciates solid research and good storytelling." — Roundup Magazine "Richly researched. . . . This carefully crafted academic treatment will enhance library shelves." — Library Journal (starred review) "A unique take on a key genre of cinema." — Film Stage | Mia Mask is a professor of film at Vassar College, where she holds the Mary Riepma Ross 1932 endowed chair of film. She has appeared on CNN's The Movies , the Smithsonian Channel, the Criterion Channel, and has provided commentary on National Public Radio. Her books include Poitier Revisited: Reconsidering a Black Icon in the Obama Age and Divas on Screen: Black Women in American Film . African American westerns have a rich cinematic history and visual culture. Mia Mask examines the African American western hero within the larger context of film history by considering how Black westerns evolved and approached wide-ranging goals. Woody Strode's 1950s transformation from football star to actor was the harbinger of hard-edged western heroes later played by Jim Brown and Fred Williamson. Sidney Poitier's provided a narrative helmed by a groundbreaking African American director and offered unconventionally rich roles for women. Mask moves from these discussions to consider blaxploitation westerns and an analysis of Jeff Kanew's hard-to-find 1972 documentary about an all-Black rodeo. The book addresses how these movies set the stage for modern-day westploitation films like . |Acknowledgments - Football Heroes Invade Hollywood - Black Masculinity on Horseback: From Duel at Diablo to Buck and the Preacher - Blaxplotation versus Black Liberation: The Charley Trilogy - Harlem Rides the Range: Nobody Told You There Were Black Cowboys - Westerns and Westploitation: Brothas and Sistas at the O.K. Corral Notes Filmography Bibliography Index "Richly researched. . . . This carefully crafted academic treatment will enhance library shelves." —__Library Journal__ (starred review) "Mask provides an insightful commentary on the Civil Rights era and its African-American-themed Westerns from today's perspective."—Angela Aleiss, author of __Hollywood's Native Americans: Stories of Identity and Resistance__ |**Mia Mask** is a professor of film at Vassar College, where she holds the Mary Riepma Ross 1932 endowed chair of film. She has appeared on CNN's __The Movies__, the Smithsonian Channel, the Criterion Channel, and has provided commentary on National Public Radio. Her books include __Poitier Revisited: Reconsidering a Black Icon in the Obama Age__ and __Divas on Screen: Black Women in American Film__. African American westerns have a rich cinematic history and visualculture. Mia Mask examines the African American western hero withinthe larger context of film history by considering how Blackwesterns evolved and approached wide-ranging goals. Woody Strode's1950s transformation from football star to actor was the harbingerof hard-edged western heroes later played by Jim Brown and FredWilliamson. Sidney Poitier's Buck and the Preacherprovided a narrative helmed by a groundbreaking African Americandirector and offered unconventionally rich roles for women. Maskmoves from these discussions to consider blaxploitation westernsand an analysis of Jeff Kanew's hard-to-find 1972 documentary aboutan all-Black rodeo. The book addresses how these movies set thestage for modern-day westploitation films like DjangoUnchained.

A first-of-its kind survey, Black Rodeo illuminates thefigure of the Black cowboy while examining the intersection ofAfrican American film history and the western.