The American West and the Black Frontier (1530-1900)

Once the homelands of Indigenous peoples for 10,000 years, the West was a realm of colonial contention by Old World empires like France and Spain, and later the United States. Many Black adventurers and settlers arrived over centuries, though we rarely hear their many stories or contributions. Among them were Spanish Moors, French Creoles, and Americans who came as explorers, fur-trappers, trading post entrepreneurs, cowboys, cavalry, foot soldiers, and homesteaders.

About our presenter: Arthur Cromwell is an Associate Professor Emeritus of Media Arts & Studies in the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University. His audiovisual talk will show us part of a vital history erased from mainstream media and will include rare historical photographs.