Students at the University of Houston explore Black history in an innovative course that blends music, culture and historical research.
“Before Cowboy Carter: Black Towns, Black Freedom,” led by class professor Dr. Alicia Odewale, uses Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album as a gateway to exploring the legacy of Black cowboys, Black towns and the diverse paths to freedom beyond Juneteenth.
This course, being taught for the first time this spring, gives students a unique opportunity to study history and actively participate in preserving and sharing it. Their research culminates in a major public presentation at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Black Heritage Day, where they will exhibit their work alongside institutions like the Buffalo Soldiers Museum and the Black Cowboy Museum.
Bringing Black history to the forefront
The course is a natural extension of Odewale’s long-standing research into Black towns, particularly Greenwood in Tulsa, where she is from.
“People are just now waking up to this idea of Black people being in the West, about Black country music, Black horse riders and all these other aesthetics that have always been a part of our culture,” she said. “I was getting increasingly frustrated with the idea that this history was new when in reality, it has existed for generations.”
Recognizing that music is a powerful connector, Odewale saw Cowboy Carter as an opportunity to engage students fresh and relevantly.
People are just now waking up to this idea of Black people being in the West, about Black country music, Black horse riders and all these other aesthetics that have always been a part of our culture.
UH Professor class professor Dr. Alicia Odewale
“We use the album as a way to walk through the history of the Black West, but it’s just a starting point, she said. “We have readings, engage with archives and explore real historical figures and events referenced in the music.”
The Cowboy Carter boldly challenges the narrative of who belongs in country music by highlighting the historical contributions of Black artists to the genre. It essentially reclaims a space often considered exclusively white and prompts a conversation about racial erasure within American music culture.
The 27-track album pays tribute to various Southern music eras and genres, including outlaw country, Louisiana’s zydeco and 1960s rock ‘n’ roll, with contributions from lesser-known artists and classic country legends.
Each week, she selects a song from the album that connects to a specific historical theme, encouraging students to listen, reflect and draw connections. “It’s been a fun, ongoing game for students to guess why I picked certain songs for each week’s topic,” she said. “They develop many insightful ideas, often seeing connections I hadn’t thought of.”
A hands-on approach to learning
As an archaeologist, Odewale’s teaching philosophy is rooted in hands-on learning.
“I learn best by doing, and that’s how I structure my classes. We don’t just read about history—we engage with primary sources, archives and personal narratives,” Odewale said. “When we discussed the rise of Black cowboys, we read Matt Love’s 1907 autobiography while listening to Beyoncé’s ‘Honey’ and connected it all to Black rodeos, Black cowboys and the building of Black towns.”
Students in the course are working on a Black Town Story Map, an online resource that will showcase the histories of the towns they research. “My biggest goal is to see this collection grow,” Odewale said. “Right now, we have 20 towns included, but the more I teach this class, the more stories we can bring to the forefront.”
One of the most exciting aspects of the course is its integration of real-world experiences. Five field trips have been planned, including visits to the Black Cowboy Museum and the rodeo’s Black Heritage Day. Initially, attendance at the rodeo was optional due to cost, but thanks to the Black Heritage Committee, the class was invited as official exhibitors. “
To be in the same space as the Buffalo Soldiers Museum and the Black Cowboy Museum is incredible,” Odewale said.
LaShandra “Shaun” Boddy, the Houston Rodeo’s Black Heritage Committee Chairman, is excited about this collaboration.
“The basics of the course—Black towns, Black cowboys, Black Western music—align perfectly with what we are doing with our exhibitors this year,” Boddy said. “We felt this would be a great way to incorporate the students at the University of Houston, especially since we have other universities participating as exhibitors.”
As exhibitors, students will be stationed in front of Hall D, an area of high foot traffic.
“Each exhibitor gets a table where they can display materials, highlight their research, and engage with the crowd,” Boddy explained. “The students will focus on their projects, sharing what they’ve learned and engaging visitors in discussions about Black Western history.”
Boddy sees this as a twofold opportunity.
“I’m hoping the students will gain confidence and experience in presenting their research to thousands of people, while attendees who may not be familiar with Black Western history will walk away with new knowledge,” she said. “Hopefully, the students and the audience will take something meaningful from this experience.”
Odewale hopes that the course will inspire other educators to rethink how history is taught.
“Some might be hesitant to use pop culture in the classroom because it’s not seen as academically rigorous,” she said. “But we need to meet students where they are. When they choose their own research topics and connect them to what they know, they take ownership of history in a powerful way.”
She is committed to ensuring that the student’s work has a lasting impact.
“This course proves that history isn’t just something to study—something to be preserved, shared and celebrated. Black freedom is more than Juneteenth, and our students are helping to tell the full story.”
