African American Cowboys Tie Down Ropers in the Louisiana Florida Parishes

Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr.

A wonderful aspect of living in the beautiful Louisiana Florida Parishes is the opportunity to document  the rich history of the people that call the Florida Parishes home.  Historically, African American cowboys  and calf ropers have played an important role in the cattle industry. In the cowboy community Fred Whitfield won more than $3 million dollars and eight world championships competing on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association tour. 

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Richard Johnson in St. Helena Parish.  Richard's father was a roper and was regarded as one of the best cow ropers in the parish. Whenever a cow got loose, the owners would call Richards's father to find it and bring it home. One of his old friends talked about how Richards father would find the animal every time. 

Richard's passion for rodeo, horse riding, and roping is inherited from his father.  Richard's place is a gathering place for cowboys and horsemen from the Florida Parishes who come to ride, rope, and barrel race. The sport is enjoyed by women and men alike. 

Cowboy hats, boots, and jeans were in full display on the riders of some of the riding clubs.  They rode their horse with pride and joy and the gallop for all the spectators. The equestrian feat was observed by all observers as they galloped with pride and joy. 

As part of preserving history, I documented the riders through photographs and video. In addition, I managed to interview a few horsemen. To ensure the future access to the Black Cowboys and Ropers stories, I  planned to donate the electronics files to the Amistad Research Center in New Orleans for future research and documentation. 

The History of Percy and Creola Atkins Johnson

Creola Atkins Johnson
Photo Courtesy: The Johnson Family

I heard a lot about the Atkins family of St. Helena. People often talk about a man named John David Atkins. Everyone called him J.D. Atkins. He was a farmer who owned a produce packing shed where they took the produce after harvest time for packing and selling.  African-American farmers weren't getting the best and fair prices for their produce in the Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parish.  J.D. would take their produce to the French Market in New Orleans and get a better price for them. He rented space to sell produce at the French Market. 

J.D. parents were Monvill and Susie Hickerson Atkins. They were the parents of; Creola, William, Curtis, Lawerence, John D,  King Davis, James, Idella, Nannie, Mary Monvill  Atkins. there may be others, but the United States Federal Census only list these names.  J.D. was born in 1918 in Greensburg, St. Helena, Louisiana and died on June 9, 1998. He was buried at Turner Chapel Cemetery. His father Monvill was born in 1877 in St. Helena and died in 1933.

Creola married a man named Percy Johnson in St. Helena Parish.  They had fifteen children; Loukillie, Ike, Evelyn,  Lena May, Jack, Winnie, Shelly, Sampson, Frank, Percy, Melvin, Richard, John Lee, Rose Mary,  Joe Louis Johnson, and Anthony Miles. With so many children to take care of, she stayed at home to take of the family. The only time I saw my mother cry is when I went to Vietnam, said her son Frank. 

Percy Johnson
Photo Courtesy: The Johnson Family

Percy was known as one of the best African-American ropers and cowboys in St. Helena Parish. I interviewed several people who talked about his roping skills. There isn't any written documentation or oral history collections on the African-American cowboys and ropers. Percy son's Richard and Frank often tell me about their father and the kind of man he was. One thing Frank wanted me to know about his father, that his father was a good man and a good provider for his family. Richard is the one that took after his father when it comes down to the love of horses and cows. Frank enjoys hunting like his father.  Frank and his father Percy hunted all kinds of wild game to feed the family.

Stories of the local people are significant to local history. There is so much more to learn about the African-American cowboys and their way of life. Who were these cowboys and horsemen? Where did they live? If anyone knows of any cowboys and horsemen in your family and you would like to share the story with Preserving Our History in Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes, please contact me.