Cowboys in Oakland? Yep!

Saturday was the 38th annual parade organized by the Oakland Black Cowboy Association (OBCA).

The homespun parade was held at DeFremery Park in West Oakland and included high school ROTC drill teams, Girl Scouts, the Red Hat ladies, a book club, local politicians, and church groups.  The highlight was, of course, the cowboys and guest charros from Lincoln, CA.

The parade was smaller than in past years due to the organization's dwindling membership, but the crowd was enthusiastic and there was literal dancing in the streets.

The OBCA educates the public, especially school children, about the history of black cowboys, estimated to have comprised 25% of the West's cowboys after the Civil War.

The cowboys were particularly attentive to the kids in the crowd who were entranced by the horses.  A barbeque and zydeco dancing capped off the event.