Something is missing from Western films: There are no black cowboys.
That's not historically accurate. In the American West in the 1800s, one in four cowboys was African-American.
Not only did filmmakers exclude black actors from leading roles, some of the stories — like "The Lone Ranger" — are thought to have actually been inspired by an African-American deputy.
The very few films created to show black cowboys echo the discrimination and racism they faced while on the frontier.
What happened to all the Western movies?
This segment of "Pop Quiz" aims to answer why Westerns were once one of the biggest film genres in Hollywood, but there aren't many made anymore.
Cowboys of color say they did a lot more grunt work than their white counterparts. The Wild West wouldn't have been the same without black cowboys.
Black cowboys were often freed slaves. There weren't a lot of other job options for black men post-Civil War.
Do you think the film industry accurately represents history? Let us know on any of our social channels.
Grit TV
Featuring timeless programming and top characters like Clint Eastwood, John Wayne and James Stewart, Grit showcases classic all-American storytelling in its iconic Western movies and series.
