Award Winning Filmmaker and Genealogist Document the History of the Black Cowboys and Horsemen

Leonard Smith III, Award Wininng Filmmaker
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

Leonard Smith, III, who won several awards for his film called "A Place Called Desire' accompanied Harrell in documenting and interviewing the Black Cowboys and horsemen in St. Helena Parish several years ago. It was the first time Smith had been in the parish to document a rich undocumented subject. In his capacity as a filmmaker and genealogist researcher, Smith understands how important it is to document and tell our own stories.

His company LS3 Studios, a video production company provide services in person histories, photography, storytelling, and video editing. Having been briefly introduced to the topic of the black cowboys by Harrell, his attention was drawn to the story of the life of black cowboys and horsemen. Harrell arranged for photographer Walter C. Black, and Smith to join her in St Helena. Parish. All three with cameras in their hand enjoyed taking photographs. Their cameras mean to them what the horses means to the horse riders. 

While the horsemen rode their horses some of the men was cooking, barbecuing and boiling different types of meat. Among the meats was opossums, a meat Smith and Harrell have never tasted and had no plans to taste it that day. In others opinions, they both didn't know what they were missing by passing up the taste of wild game. 

They end the day with lots of photographs and video footage for preservation. There is nothing like exploring life around you and learning about the native people, their culture and way of life. Harrell is pleased that she had the opportunity to document some of the Black Cowboys events in the St. Helena Parish.