7 Black Westerns Starring Black Women
The release of Beyonce’s latest album Cowboy Carter has naturally brought an influx of new fans to country music, more specifically Black country music artists. For once, these artists are receiving record-hitting numbers and building their notoriety. Social media is flooded with fan after fan dressing up in their cunty and country cowgirl looks. Where cowboy boots and hats have never been more popular since the release of Beyonce’s album Renaissance.
With everyone uplifting Black country artists, will there be an influx of wanting to see more Black country stories on screen? I started to question how many country movies are there in the world featuring Black women. The answer is there aren’t many but the list we pulled together deserves some recognition. Check out seven Western films that star Black women below!
OUTLAW POSSE 2024
Filled with action, suspense, humor, and a star-studded cast Outlaw Posse is an American Western film by Mario Van Peebles (New Jack City). Staying true to his family legacy Van Peebles wrote, directed, and starred in this project alongside his son Mandela Van Peebles. Set in 1908, Outlaw Posse is about a son, Decker, who was forced on a mission to find his estranged father, Chief. Chief has been under the radar for years but recently resurfaced to recover the gold he “stole” from his old partner. If Decker fails to find his father and locate the “stolen” gold Chief’s old business partner will kill Decker’s wife.
Even though Van Peebles previously directed and starred in the 1993 Western Posse, this film does not appear to be a part two of the original film.
The star-studded cast includes Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost), Cedric The Entertainer (Barbershop), DC Young Fly (Wild N Out), Allen Payne (New Jack City), Amber Reign Smith (Wu-Tang: An American Saga), Cam Gigandet (Twilight), John Carrol Lynch (Fargo), and M Emmet Walsh (Blade Runner).
SURROUNDED 2023
Based on the story of former Buffalo soldier Mo Washington this Western stars beloved Black Panther actress Letitia Wright. Five years after the end of the Civil War, Washington travels West to claim her freedom and find her piece of promised land which she believes is within the gold mines. After her stagecoach is ambushed and destroyed Washington is tasked with watching a dangerous outlaw, but finds herself fighting for her life when the bandits gang comes to free him.
The film also stars Jamie Bell, Michael K. Williams, and Jeffrey Donavan, and is directed by Anthony Mandler. This was the final film of talented actor Michael K. Williams before his tragic death.
OUTLAW JOHNNY BLACK 2023
Written, directed, and starring Michael Jai White, Outlaw Johnny Black is said to be a “spiritual sequel” to the film Black Dynamite (which White also wrote and starred in). Outlaw Johnny Black pulls from similar themes like being a blaxploitation, action, and comedy movie.
The film is about a son, Johnny Black (Michael Jai White), who seeks revenge for the death of his father. On Johnny Black’s quest to find his father’s killer, Brett Clayton, he poses as a pastor in a small mining town that is being taken over by a land baron, seeking oil.
The film stars Anika Noni Rose (The Princess And The Frog), Erica Ash (Survivor’s Remorse), Tommy Davidson (In Living Color), Kym Whitley (Black Dynamite), and Chris Browning (West World) with cameos from comedian Tony Baker (Whiplash), and singer / actress Jill Scott (First Wives Club).
THE HARDER THEY FALL 2021
Like most Western films revenge is the driving force. When an outlaw, Nat Love (Jonathan Majors), learns that the man, Rufus Buck (Idris Elba), who killed his family is back on the run Love rallies up his crew for an epic journey. The two gangs find themselves in a shootout after Buck takes over a small town.
Written and directed by Jeymes Samuels we see women outlaws like never before. King, Beetz, and Deadwyler’s characters are prideful, independent, and just as dangerous and vicious as the men in this movie.
This Western truly has a legendary cast consisting of Regina King (Watchmen), Idris Elba (Luther), Jonathan Majors (The Last Black Man In San Francisco), Lakeith Stanfield (Sorry To Bother You), Zazie Beetz (Atlanta), Delroy Lindo (Da 5 Bloods), Deon Cole (Blackish), Danielle Deadwyler (Till), and several more recognizable names.
An interesting fact about this film is that Nat Love, Mary Fields, Rufus Buck, Cherokee Bill, Bill Pickett, Jim Beckworth, and Bass Reeves are all real historical figures of the old west.
GANG OF ROSES 2003
Gang of Roses is probably the first and only Western film to star a cast of Black women as an all-female Western gang. The ladies come out of retirement to seek revenge on Left Eye Watkins (Bobby Brown), a ruthless outlaw who takes over a peaceful town looking for riches. During his killing spree, Watkins murders the sister of Rachel (Monica Calhoun), the leader of the once-notorious all-girl gang. Rachel gets her crew together to seek revenge on Watkins.
The all-women crew consists of LisaRay McCoy (Maria), Lil Kim (Chasity), Stacey Dash (Kim), Marie Matiko (Zang Li), and Monic Calhoun (Rachel).
THOMASINE & BUSHROD 1974
Released in 1974, Thomasine & Bushrod is a Western film set during 1912 - 1915 about a fictional, Black Bonnie and Clyde. After rekindling their love the couple travels through the Southwest robbing banks, shooting lawmen, and giving their stolen riches to poor Blacks, whites, and Indians.
The film was directed by renowned photographer and director Gordan Parks Jr. and written by Max Julien the film stars Max Julien (Cleopatra Jones), Vonetta McGhee (Shaft In Africa), Juanita Moore (Imitation of Life), and Glynn Turman (Ma Raineys Black Bottom).
LOLA COLT 1967
Lola Colt is a 1967 Spaghetti Western film directed by Siro Marcellini and starring Lola Falana. Arriving in Sant'Anna with other dancers, Lola, a saloon dancer, finds herself helping the small town. After the town is terrorized by an outlaw named El Diablo, who wants to sell the surrounding land to a railroad company. Lola mobilizes the townspeople to fight back and rebel.
The film's original name is Lola Colt, but it most recently goes by Black Tigress.
Wondering what a Spaghetti Western is, well it emerged in the mid-1960s as a broad sub-genre of Western films created in Europe. Foreign critics added the word “spaghetti” because many Italian directors shot these kind of films.