Black Cowboy, Wild Horses: A True Story

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lester, Julius. 1998. Black Cowboy, Wild Horses: A True Story. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0903717873

PLOT SUMMARY

Bob Lemmons is a black cowboy who tracks wild mustangs and captures them.  Black Cowboy, Wild Horses focuses on Lemmons’ attempts to corral a particular herd of mustangs.  Before overtaking the herd, Lemmons must first join the herd before challenging the stallion.  Black Cowboy, Wild Horses is based on a true story, but Lester does not overwhelm to reader with historical facts. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Bob Lemmons was a former slave whose mustang tracking skills were legendary.  Besides the brief mention of other cowboys, Lemmons is the only human character in this story.  The rest of the characters are the horses.  Lester refrains from assigning anthropomorphic characteristics to the horses which allows the story to remain realistic.  Throughout the story, Lester is able to convey how deep the bond is between Lemmons and his horse, Warrior.  The two are able to communicate easily without the use of words.

Although this story is factual and not a tall tale, the style in which it is written gives it the feeling of a tall tale.  Metaphors are used extensively.  A review from School Library Journal states that “Lester's overuse of metaphor is … a drawback.”  I strongly disagree with this review.  I found the language of the story to be a perfect match for the magnificence of the mustangs.

The figurative language matches well with the beautiful illustrations that Pinkney has created.  Disappointingly, the story is presented in opaque text boxes that obstruct some of Pinkney’s illustrations.  The story’s artwork was created using pencil, gouache, and watercolor on paper.  While I enjoyed the story, the illustrations stole the show.  The illustrations are indicative of Pinkney’s style and are absolutely beautiful.  Pinkney is able to capture movement and emotion with his art.  On some pages, the clouds are in the shape of horses running.  This is not done in a whimsical way and it adds to the beauty of the story.

Pinkney accurately presents Lemmons as a black man in the illustrations.  Other than the brief mention of his status as a former slave and his inability to read, the story does not focus on the color of his skin.  Lester and Pinkney both include insightful notes at the end of the story.  Pinkney states that “one out of three cowboys was black or Mexican.”   These notes add to the historical accuracy and significance of this story.

This story may be too long for very young readers, but older children (especially boys) will enjoy both the story and the illustrations.  Because this story is based on fact, it would be a wonderful addition to a lesson on the Wild West.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Booklist: “Pinkney's earth-colored gouache and watercolor paintings add the look of the Texas plains to Lester's account and capture the energy of the horses as they gallop across sweeping, double-page spreads. Lester and Pinkney's manifest love and respect for the West and cowboys of color, whose contributions have been too long overlooked, distinguish their latest collaboration.”

Kirkus Review: “The text is ably matched by Pinkney's big, dappled watercolor scenes of open prairie and muscular, galloping horses. Lemmons may not have the name recognition of Nat Love or Bill Pickett, but his exploits were no less spectacular.”

Publisher’s Weekly: “Lester studs his seamless prose with powerful descriptions, such as when a hawk is "suspended on cold threads of unseen winds," or the mustangs sweep toward the corral as "a dark surge of flesh flashing across the plains like black lightning." The fluid brushwork of Pinkney's watercolors seem tailor-made for the flow of muscle, mane and tail of wild mustangs galloping across the prairie. Notable for the light it sheds on a fascinating slice of Americana, this book is essential for anyone interested in the Wild West.”

CONNECTIONS

 

These related books might interest young readers:

Andrea Davis Pinkney. Bill Pickett: Rodeo-Ridin’ Cowboy. ISBN 0152021035

 

Lillian Schlissel. Black Frontiers: A History of African American Heroes in the Old West. ISBN 9780689833151