Beyoncé wasn’t the first to put Black folks back in cowboy boots. Rex Purefoy has been roping and riding while entertaining audiences for 50 years, reminding us that the fabled Wild West belonged to everyone.
Purefoy — dubbed the ‘Hollywood Cowboy’ — will help open a free exhibit celebrating Black cowboy heritage at the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center on June 7, which runs through the end of July.
The exhibit features Purefoy’s collection of ornate saddles, cowboy hats and boots, rhinestone and embroidered western apparel, and photographs spanning five decades of performances.
Special programming around the exhibit includes horseback riding for children, rope-twirling contests, a best dressed cowboy & cowgirl competition, and screenings of rare western films.
“When I was 13, I saw a film with Herb Jeffries, the only Black singing cowboy,” said Purefoy. “The next day, when everybody came to school twirling ropes, I thought, I’d like to do this for the rest of my life.”
That childhood dream carried Purefoy through decades of wild west performances. His work received its highest honor in 2007 when the National Cowboys of Color Museum inducted him into their Hall of Fame (now named the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum).
“The cowboys worked cattle drives and rode bucking horses, but I showed off what they did for entertainment,” said Purefoy. “Fancy roping, gun handling, and singing with the guitar was the draw for cowboys that baseball and football are today.”
Bruce R. Watkins Center Executive Director, Emiel Cleaver, calls the partnership an honor.
“We are pleased to showcase American cowboy history and culture and its deep-rooted connection to the African American community – past, present, and future,” said Cleaver.
Hollywood Cowboy Exhibit Schedule of Events:
- June 7, Exhibit Opening – Rex Purefoy Show: 1 – 4 p.m. Video screening and panel discussion in the Center’s Main Auditorium
- June 21, Western Family Day: Noon – 4 p.m. Giddy-Up Riders of Kansas City provide horseback riding for children and rope-twirling contests
- June 28, Black Saddle Clubs and Black Rodeo Screening: 1 – 4 p.m. Presentation on modern Black saddle clubs and screening of the lost 1972 documentary “Black Rodeo” starring Purefoy, Muhammad Ali, Archie Wycoff, and Clarence Gonzalez
- July 12, Vintage Western Cinema: Noon – 4 p.m. Films “Harlem Rides the Range” and “The Bronze Buckaroo” with best-dressed cowboy and cowgirl contests
Manette Norris, founder of Giddy-Up Riders—a saddle outreach club dedicated to youth empowerment— learned horsemanship from Purefoy at age seven. She credits that interaction with Purefoy with her founding of Giddy-Up Riders, a program that uses horsemanship to build confidence and leadership skills.
“He taught us to walk with dignity, ride with pride, and lead with discipline,” said Norris. “He showed me that being a cowboy isn’t just about riding horses — it’s about holding the reins of your future, honoring your past, and blazing a trail for others to follow.”
Gayle Hill-Suber, president of the Friends of Bruce R. Watkins board, sees the exhibit connecting generations.
“We are lucky to have Rex Purefoy in person, along with his amazing historic collection,” said Hill-Suber. “We look forward to sharing this with adults who might remember his dynamic performances, and children who will be amazed to see his rope tricks.”
The Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center is located at 3700 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. All programming runs free from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Adults must accompany children 16 and younger.
