Exclusive: Watch the Trailer for Jordan Peele's New Black Cowboy Doc
Produced by Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw Productions, "High Horse: The Black Cowboy" dismantles the whitewashed mythology of the American cowboy.
“Did you know that the very first assembly of photographs in sequential order to create a motion picture was a two-second clip of a Black man on a horse?”
— Emerald Haywood, Nope
Ten minutes into Jordan Peele’s 2022 film Nope, Keke Palmer delivers a monologue on a still-unsolved mystery that highlights a little-known fact that has been whitewashed out of American history.
All cowboys were Black.
By the time 104 white “adventurers” sailed to the New World in 1607, Black cowboys had been riding horses, tending to livestock and farming the land for the better part of a century. There were no horses in America until Black people arrived. The animals that you know as “cattle” came from Africa. By 1708, most of the Black men in majority-Black South Carolina worked as “cattle hunters.” And since white men didn’t have to actually do any work, they came up with a new name for the Black men they enslaved to tend to their animals:
High Horse: The Black Cowboy, a new three-part documentary by Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, reveals the truth behind this whitewashed piece of American mythology.
The doc also highlights how Black Americans have always known this hidden secret. Each episode explores a different aspect of this untold story—land, image, and culture—using beautifully shot cinematography, historical footage and interviews with Black experts and cultural icons (I served as a consultant on the project). From actors like Pam Grier and Glynn Turman to rappers Bun B and Rick Ross, the doc reveals how Black people have never strayed away from their cowboy roots.
“I’m grateful to Monkeypaw for amplifying the powerful voices and long-standing culture of Black cowboys and cowgirls through High Horse: The Black Cowboy, on Peacock,” said Peele. “Their history is inseparable from the story of our country—and this project aims to honor and celebrate their lasting legacy.”
Directed by Jason Perez, the documentary also includes interviews with country music artist Blanco Brown, Revolt’s Lynae Vanee, country music artist INK, journalist Vann Newkirk, sociologist Tressie McMillan Cottom, the Compton Cowboys and others. In an interview recorded before Cowboy Carter debuted, Tina Knowles reveals Beyoncé’s longtime love for country music. Legendary musician Raphael Saadiq composed an original score for the series.
Peele served as executive producer along with Monkeypaw Productions’ Win Rosenfeld, Keisha Senter and Jamal Watson. Mari Keiko Gonzalez, Liz Yale Marsh, Kadine Anckle, Tom Casciato, Sacha Jenkins and Keith McQuirter also produced. The documentary is produced by Monkeypaw Productions and Universal Television Alternative Studio, a division of Universal Studio Group.
High Horse: The Black Cowboy will stream on Peacock on Nov. 20.
Watch the trailer for High Horse below.
My dad was a midwestern farmer and he loved nothing more than his westerns. I wish he were still alive so he could watch this. He about had apoplexy the first time I commented about the gay Hollywood version of Cowboys. Audie Murphy, and his tight pants was a site to behold. I look forward to seeing the authentic cowboy in High Horse.
Great time to be back on Peacock!