The city of Oakland was host to a fun, unforgettable, community-driven gathering at the 42nd Annual Black Cowboy Parade and Festival on Oct. 1.Members of the Oakland Black Cowboy Association (OBCA) joined Bay Area residents and visitors at DeFremery Park in West Oakland, many wearing Western attire, cowboy hats, and pointy toe cowboy boots. The OBCA has been enlightening the community about the contributions of people of color in the Old West for over 40 years. 
Annually, this culminates in the parade and festival, which pays homage to and celebrates the long history of African American cowboys. The festival began at 10 A.M., offering a fun-for-all-ages environment, with live music, food vendors, craft vendors, horseback riding, and arts and crafts. Attendees could also take part in a discussion geared towards educating the community on the role that Black Cowboys have played throughout history. With Black cowboys making up 25 percent of all pioneer-era cowboys, the Black Cowboy Parade and Festival teaches community members how they helped to shape the Old West.Cowboys representing the OBCA brought out their horses and their best rodeo tricks, sharing this history and culture with the community. They also offered horseback rides to children, lessons on how to rope a horse, as well as unique memorabilia. Parents danced to some of their favorite songs: OBCA members encouraged a dance break and everyone ended up doing the electric slide in unison. For vendors, business was booming. They sold cowboy hats, belt buckles, jewelry, T-shirts, buttons, dashikis, books, paintings and much more. There were food vendors offering popcorn, barbeque, and icy drinks. Arts and crafts tables allowed children to make bedazzled cowboy hats. Nearby, a picture booth offered props for taking photos set in the Old West.Finally, the OBCA set up an information booth showing visitors ways to participate in the organization and how to become a member — so that the legacy and history of Black cowboys continues for decades to come.