Golden Horseshoe Exhibit Explores Black Music at the Turn of the 20th Century

June is Black Music Month, and the Disneyland Resort continues to Celebrate Soulfully throughout the month. This has been done with multiple musical offerings, dining options, and more. At the Golden Horsehoe, an exhibit can currently be found that explores Black music at the turn of the 20th century. The exhibit is called Golden Horseshoe Exhibit: Black Music at the Turn of the 20th Century.

The exhibit features a variety of instruments and names that are a part of the story of Black music during this era. There are also two signs, one on either side of the stage. They say:

Black Cowhand Music

Cowboy music is just another example of how Black culture influenced and enriched America. Making up one in four cowboys, Black people had joined the Westward expansion between 1866-1895 and prospered significantly because of their experience toiling the land and grooming horses and cattle.

Addison Jones, Bass Reeves, “Stagecoach” Mary Fields, and “Biddy” Mason are just some of the noteable Black figures who greatly added to the archetypal cowboy and cowgirl motif. Black cowboys were prone to sing and pick the guitar or banjo around campfires to not only entertain themselves, but to calm their cattle. Necessity soon evolved into a powerful art form, producing a genre known as cowboy music. In fact, the version known today of “Home on the Range” derived from Black cowboys. Through the years the profound and creative contributions of Black cow folk has permeated the sound of country music.

Don Flemons

A 5th generation Black and Mexican native of Phoenix, AZ, Dom Flemons is a folk musician known as The American Songster; his range of music covers American folklore, ballads, and Black banjo. Flemons’ musical roots run deep. Rummaging through his parents’ record collections, a young Flemons religiously studied the styles of American folk music greats Woody Guthrie and Tom Paxton. In high school band, Flemons played percussion and hit the stage at local coffee houses as a guitarist and harmonica player. After his run as a founding member of Caroline Chocolate Drops, Flemons’ solo career includes five recorded albums, including an illustrious homage to the African Americans who helped shape the American West. Black Cowboys garnered Flemons one of four Grammy nominations. In 2022, he received an Honorary Doctorate (Doctor of Humane Letters) from Northern Arizona University. Considered an expert player on the banjo, guitar, harmonica, jug percussion, quills, fife and rhythm bones, Flemons continues to tour the world. Dom Flemons puruit of Folk music continues to illuminate!

Here is a look at the full exhibit that is currently found in the Golden Horsehoe in Disneyland’s Frontierland:

Golden Horseshoe Exhibit: Black Music at the Turn of the 20th Century will continue to be found at the Golden Horseshoe through July 11th. It is one of many of the many different Celebrate Soulfully offerings found throughout the Disneyland Resort. More information can be found on the Disneyland website.

What do you think of this exhibit? What is your favorite thing about it? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!