In the Wild West, things weren’t always black and white. Black cowboys, outlaws, and protectors played key roles in shaping the untamed history of the American frontier. The stories of these brave individuals reflect a different side of the West—one where survival meant facing danger head-on, and being an outlaw sometimes meant creating danger.
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In the Cowboy Carter Chronicles, Digital Producer Jyesha Johnson write a weekly series, delving into the significant Black history and cultural contributions highlighted in the course on the American West.
Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus’s song II MOST WANTED channels this energy, capturing the spirit of a shotgun rider—a protector who rides in the front seat, watching out for threats. Let’s dive into some of the Black figures who embodied this role, living by their own code and riding through history like the true outlaws and protectors they were.
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Shotgun riders: The unsung protectors
“I’ll be your shotgun rider ‘til the day I die.”
The shotgun rider was a protector in the Wild West—someone who rode along with stagecoach drivers, keeping a lookout for bandits and highwaymen. This role was all about survival, and the riders had to be quick on their feet, armed with a keen sense of danger. One of the most notable figures in this tradition was Bose Ikward, a former slave who became a trusted shotgun rider on the Goodnight-Loving Trail. He wasn’t just riding for the sake of it—he was there to protect those around him, ensuring their safety on one of the most dangerous trails of the time.
Much like the line in II MOST WANTED, “Came out of nowhere, didn’t give no warning / Pedal so heavy, like the two most wanted, and I…” Ikward’s role didn’t come with a grand announcement. But once he was there, it was clear he was a force to be reckoned with. His bravery and loyalty earned him the respect of Goodnight, the trail’s namesake, who trusted him with money and critical decisions on the trail. He was a shotgun rider—someone you could count on when everything else seemed uncertain.
Ben Hodges: The trickster who tried to outsmart the system
“Making waves in the wind with my empty hand / My other hand on you.”
Ben Hodges wasn’t your typical outlaw—he was more of a smooth talker than a gunslinger. Often trying to work the system to his advantage, Hodges became infamous in the Wild West for his cunning ways. He wasn’t the type to pull out a gun and rob you; instead, he’d outsmart you into giving him what he wanted. Whether he was trying to get land from a Spanish estate or buying cattle on credit, Hodges played the game differently from others.
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In a way, he was like the person in II MOST WANTED who’s always one step ahead. “I’ll be your backseat baby, drivin’ you crazy anytime you like,” speaks to that feeling of control—Hodges was always ahead of the curve, even when it came to getting himself out of trouble. He knew how to talk his way into and out of situations, and that was his greatest weapon.
Cherokee Bill: The outlaw who lived fast and died young
“I know we’re jumpin’ the gun, but we’re both still young.”
Cherokee Bill was the type of outlaw who lived life without hesitation. Born in New York, he quickly made a name for himself with his violent ways. He didn’t just kill for survival—he killed for power, robbing railroad agents, policemen, and anyone else who got in his way. Like the lyrics say, “I’ll be your shotgun rider ‘til the day I die,” Cherokee Bill wasn’t thinking about the future. He was living for the moment, and that moment was full of chaos and violence.
At just 20 years old, Cherokee Bill was captured and executed, his last words simply being, “I came here to die, not to make a speech.” His short life was full of reckless decisions and deadly consequences, but it perfectly captured the kind of fast-paced existence that defined many of the outlaws in the Wild West. He wasn’t afraid of danger; he embraced it, and in the end, it caught up with him.
Black resilience in the Wild West
The shotgun riders and outlaws of the Wild West weren’t just trying to survive—they were creating legacies. From Bose Ikward, who rode to protect and keep people safe, to Ben Hodges, who bent the rules to get what he wanted, to Cherokee Bill, who lived life by his own dangerous terms, these figures prove that Black people in the West weren’t just bystanders—they were part of the action.
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Much like in II MOST WANTED, where the lyrics sing about living in the moment, “We’re gettin’ high ‘til we don’t realize time is passin’ by,” these Black cowboys and outlaws lived fast, rode hard, and made their mark on history. They were both protectors and rebels, just like the shotgun rider in the song, always ready for whatever came their way.
Their stories are a reminder that the Wild West wasn’t just for the mythic, white cowboy; it was a place where Black men and women fought, survived, and thrived, carving out their own place in a history that’s often been overlooked.
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