By Loretta Poole
As we approach the 250th year marking our country’s anniversary, the question rises yet again about potential contribution of Blacks to our national rise. Much has been written on whether our history timeline starts in the 1600s, particularly 1619 when the first slaves arrived in Virginia, contributing mightily to the economy of the developing colonies and the resulting United States. Our history however so often begins in 1776 precluding much of the free labor that built this country’s infrastructure. The lack of involvement of Black and brown peoples shown throughout our history has fluctuated over time, but mostly lies in erasure.
After WW II, our success in aiding Europe and ourselves so heroically allowed an enthused entertainment industry to continue showcasing one version of ‘hero’, white washing the taming of the West as a white only event as found on 1940s and 50s television and film. Historians now believe that one in four cowboys in the U.S. were Black. Gaining expertise with horses and animals while slaves and becoming free in 1865, with no source of income, many Black men headed west. Playing an active role in the building of the American West, Black men worked alongside white and brown cowboys wrangling horses, branding cattle, and steering herds long distances on cattle drives. They lived a nomadic and often lonely life—one that helped shape the myth of the American cowboy as a symbol of this country’s individualism and freedom. In a time when issues of diversity are becoming marginalized in our social and civic structures, museums are rising as heroes in preserving fast disappearing history with a variety of exhibitions that educate visitors through true life histories and stories.
Through August 30, 2026 the Hudson River Museum is presenting two groundbreaking exhibitions, Black Cowboys in America: Photographs by Ron Tarver, a Pulitzer Prize-winner who illuminates a rich narrative of Black cowboy life on ranches, at rodeos, and in urban streetscapes. In Robert Peterson: Journeys, the Oklahoma-based artist elevates everyday figures into inspiring, heroic archetypes—hardworking mothers, protective fathers, loyal siblings—and, in the process, expands the thematic parameters of classical portraiture.
Masha Turchinsky, Hudson River Museum’s Anita K. Hersh Director and CEO states, “Through stunning photography and portraiture, these exhibitions illuminate the depth and diversity of Black life across geographies and generations of the United States. They underscore the Hudson River Museum’s commitment to elevating underrepresented voices and broadening the narratives that shape our understanding of American art and culture. We are thrilled and honored to share the exquisite work of Ron Tarver and Robert Peterson with new audiences.”
Plan to attend:
ARTIST’S TOUR and TALK with Ron Tarver and Robert Peterson
Saturday, July 18, 2026, 2 Pm
*Come back on Sunday, July 19th and continue the conversation with a
Portraiture Workshop featuring both artists.
Join weekly tours, Friday 3 PM
Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10701
914 963-4550. Hrm.org