Trends are funny in that you have trends that are remembered for a long long time long after the trend falls out of favor and at the same time there are trends that are completely forgotten.

I'm talking about a forgotten trend that I'm trying to understand a bit.

I didnt notice it at first but now I kinda can't ignore it when I look at old photos.

What is the explanation with black men wearing cowboy hats in the 70s and maybe even 80s? I have family photos with my uncles wearing them shits and I thought it was kind of their thing until I started seeing it in other places.

Would this shit ever make a comeback?

http://www.iloveoldschoolmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Screen-Shot-2015-12-05-at-2.09.05-PM.jpg

https://www.citynews1130.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/9/2018/08/16/NYDK513-417_1978_000000_hd.jpg

https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/photo-of-soul-clan-and-joe-tex-and-ben-e-king-joe-tex-and-ben-e-king-picture-id85841469

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c4/James_Brown_Soul_Syndrome.jpg

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/44/22/69/442269085d898f703f3ffc75ee54d4d0.jpg

https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/soul-clan-with-peter-wolf-of-the-j-geils-band-at-the-savoy-in-new-picture-id553136171?k=6&m=553136171&s=612x612&w=0&h=DdaSwUW3WDLIxfnvOW6b-gGmcYhGd7WCwE8S__DeYZw=


just....what?

It's one of my cherished pictures. I can't look at it without tearing up. See you later Space Cowboy....

harden from time to time too

https://youtu.be/auhwI00iKWg

i have yet to see somebody to rock it with a hoodie and sneakers.
that's the new wave lol.

i hate how we've been on a decades long slide into being comfortable all the time.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ca/Gap_Band_V.jpg

all my uncles had one...all the older uncles that were in their 30's 40's 50's when I was a kid.


I feel like it still pops in the midwest/south/texas

like. there isn’t really any versatility in that style. I hated back then and hate it now lol
then again. I remember when the ladies went through the cowgirl hat stage. Hated that too...

https://cdn-s3.allmusic.com/release-covers/500/0001/539/0001539744.jpg

Great observation by the way.


**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

there was a period where that whole country-chic thing was in parallelling an increased popularity for country music (several country variety shows, the popularity of folks like Kenny ROgers, Barbara Mandrell and their ilk)

hence you had all kinda famous people (not just Black) wearing cowboy hats, cowboy boots, tight-a$$ jeans, and even clothes with fringes and whatnot

see also: Rick James "fire it up" cover as yet another example of us doing what we do and being super-extra with it

i have pics from my mother's hangouts where several folks are going that route

also consider: in certain southern locales (Houston for sure) there are people non-ironically wearing this type of gear to this day

I was just a kid then...but my dad who was a DJ told me that it was kind of a reset after they killed off disco and before boogie....

think Barbara Mandrell and the Oakridge boys...

Even John Travolta who had did Saturday Night Fever did a 180 and did Urban Cowboy...

as an 80s baby...I'm recalling the things you mentioned.

.

Like, pre badass TV cop, or 70’s 80’s kill-everything-moving cop, didn’t that generation grow up with Gunsmoke, Bonanza, etc?

big macho type cat

was not to be fucked with.

Who is going to test a man in a cowboy hat in the hood?

the zydecos and trail rides.

One of the things I've always wanted were some boss ass cowboy boots.

And my grandfather, who was a big zydeco fiend, wore cowboy hats and boots til the day he died several years ago.

Boozoo was one of his favorite artists...
https://64parishes.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/boozoo-chavis-1261.jpg

These are just some other zydeco artists or fans...

https://folkmama.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/jefferybroussard11.jpg

https://i0.wp.com/efsinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Nathan1.jpg

https://alexandriapinevillela.com/sites/default/files/Events/13507101_734841006659143_4170514021657927246_n.jpg

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/po88DP0pfEU/hqdefault.jpg

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/26/67/61/5995609/3/gallery_medium.jpg

Edit:
Sometimes, I wish I'd been able to really become a man in Louisiana. I left too early to really get to know the "country" vibe which is really a significant part of the Creole culture. When I visit, I can't talk about the music that my cousins listen to nor can I speak the language that my elders held dear. I'd have to move back and then deeply immerse myself to really know what I've been missing.

because one of the founding thoughts for this post started once I saw this film: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_River_(film)

its a lost film about a creole dude who falls in love with a black woman. there were a lot of white cowboy hats in the beginning of the film which then made me remember the old family pictures which then made me remember the photos of famous folks which all made me ask "wait, was this a thing?"

https://www.theguardian.com/global/2018/sep/21/creole-cowboys-calvert-texas-louisiana

https://kreolmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/cowboy.jpg

https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2016/03/20/were-creoles-first-cowboys/80818350/

Since that's what they're saying, I'm taking it as the gospel. LOL

see also: Lu Vason and Bill Pickett

both discussed here: http://www.billpickettrodeo.com/index.php/about-us/founder

Happy Black History Month

His last name was the first sign that he might be. It's French for flowerpot. Then, further down in the link, it's noted that he was born in NO.

because one of the founding thoughts for this post started once I saw this film: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_River_(film)

its a lost film about a creole dude who falls in love with a black woman. there were a lot of white cowboy hats in the beginning of the film which then made me remember the old family pictures which then made me remember the photos of famous folks which all made me ask "wait, was this a thing?"

Plus some of those cowboy hats are dope.


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Look up vaqueros

In Denver, every third man headed to baggage claim had on a cowboy hat, even some of the black men.
I was caught off guard.
I also saw this https://www.instagram.com/p/Bta1QfvBOSg/.

DENVER, CO, January 27, 2019 – The 113th National Western Stock Show celebrated the best sixteen days in January with the third highest attendance, hosting 701,656 visitors. The attendance record sits at 726,972 guests and was set in 2006 during the 100th Anniversary. “We appreciate every person, young and old, from near and far that came out to celebrate Colorado’s longest standing western tradition with us,” said Paul Andrews, President and CEO of the National Western Stock Show. “To host over 700,000 guests in sixteen days for the second straight year is tremendous.”

The Junior Livestock Auction had an epic sale, setting an all-time record of $1,027,750 raised. A percentage of the auction total goes to fund the Scholarship Trust, along with two other funding events. The Citizen of the West dinner, honoring Robert G. Tointon, sold out the Events Center arena floor, and the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale had another successful year. “All three of these amazing events will produce enough revenue to fund a projected 100 scholarships for students studying in the fields of agriculture and rural medicine,” said Andrews. “We are grateful to all the supporters that contribute to these events, which fund the future of ag studies in Colorado and across the country.”

Andrews also contributes the success of the Stock Show to the dedication and hard work of over 800 volunteers, the support of the City of Denver, the WSSA Board of Directors, sponsor partners, the livestock and rodeo committees, and the amazing rodeo and Stock Show fans that come out every year to celebrate the western traditions of the National Western Stock Show.

But my mom bought my brother and I cowboy boots at one point. Used to wear them instead of dress shoes at church.

https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/742727521.jpg?quality=90&strip=all

During an era of only 3 television stations, and luxury being defined by the heirs to Ewing Oil empire, my money is on that show being the trend’s catalyst.

seen a black dude at the mall wearing a real shiny silk shirt and tight ass white jeans, a bolo with a big ass diamond (uh, i think) in the center, cowboy boots with some sort of reptile skin print and a cowboy hat. under it dude was rocking a mean ass s curl. i whispered to my wife "is he auditioning for urban cowboy or american pimp?"

then just yesterday i was dropping off some packages and drove by the yard sale to end all yard sale, shit being sold grab-bag style, $3 a box, hundreds and hundreds of boxes. i seen a black dude in a shitty old darren woodson dallas jersey with a fuckin cowboy hat on. that would be like me, an eagles fan, walking around with a big ass set of wings.

He was clean af, going to a show with his lady. It didn't look dated- he looked like Frankie Beverly about to go captain a yacht in America's cup.


If you go to a Zydeco show in the deep south, you gonna see that right today and its not going to look out of place.


The fur coat thing has been gone the way of the Dodo bird, courtesy of these bootie ass rappers.