The Compton Cowboys: The New Generation of Cowboys in America's Urban Heartland

“Thompson-Hernández's
portrayal of Compton's black cowboys broadens our perception of Compton's young
black residents, and connects the Compton Cowboys to the historical legacy of
African Americans in the west. An eye-opening, moving book.”— Margot Lee Shetterly, New
York Times bestselling author of Hidden Figures

“Walter Thompson-Hernández has written a book for the ages: a profound and moving account of what it means to be black in America that is awe inspiring in its truth-telling and limitless in its empathy. Here is an American epic of black survival and creativity, of terrible misfortune and everyday resilience, of grace, redemption and, yes, cowboys.”— Junot Díaz, Pulitzer prize-winning author of This is How You Lose Her

A rising New York Times reporter tells the compelling story of The Compton Cowboys, a group of African-American men and women who defy stereotypes and continue the proud, centuries-old tradition of black cowboys in the heart of one of America’s most notorious cities.

In Compton, California, ten black riders on horseback cut an unusual profile, their cowboy hats tilted against the hot Los Angeles sun. They are the Compton Cowboys, their small ranch one of the very last in a formerly semirural area of the city that has been home to African-American horse riders for decades. To most people, Compton is known only as the home of rap greats NWA and Kendrick Lamar, hyped in the media for its seemingly intractable gang violence. But in 1988 Mayisha Akbar founded The Compton Jr. Posse to provide local youth with a safe alternative to the streets, one that connected them with the rich legacy of black cowboys in American culture. From Mayisha’s youth organization came the Cowboys of today: black men and women from Compton for whom the ranch and the horses provide camaraderie, respite from violence, healing from trauma, and recovery from incarceration.

The Cowboys include Randy, Mayisha’s nephew, faced with the daunting task of remaking the Cowboys for a new generation; Anthony, former drug dealer and inmate, now a family man and mentor, Keiara, a single mother pursuing her dream of winning a national rodeo championship, and a tight clan of twentysomethings--Kenneth, Keenan, Charles, and Tre--for whom horses bring the freedom, protection, and status that often elude the young black men of Compton.  

The Compton Cowboys is a story about trauma and transformation, race and identity, compassion, and ultimately, belonging. Walter Thompson-Hernández paints a unique and unexpected portrait of this city, pushing back against stereotypes to reveal an urban community in all its complexity, tragedy, and triumph.

The Compton Cowboys is illustrated with 10-15 photographs.

Walter Thompson-Hernández is an acclaimed author, journalist, filmmaker, and professor whose multimedia storytelling seamlessly bridges deep cultural immersion with intimate human portraits to explore identity, subcultures, and underrepresented communities. A powerful voice across diverse media platforms, he is the author of the highly anticipated upcoming memoir Crazy Boys, as well as The Compton Cowboys: The New Generation of Cowboys in America's Urban Heartland (HarperCollins), a critically praised non-fiction book that earned him a prestigious 2020 Whiting Award and widespread recognition for its lyrical prose. He is also the creator of the Webby Award-winning radio narrative program California Love. Previously a global subculture reporter for The New York Times and a writer for The New York Times Magazine, he has traveled across six continents documenting hidden human stories at the intersection of race and geography. Today, he translates his distinct narrative vision from the page to the screen as an award-winning cinematic director recognized as one of Variety's 10 Directors to Watch for 2026. He wrote, directed, and edited his highly anticipated debut feature film, If I Go Will They Miss Me―an expansion of his Sundance award-winning short starring Oscar nominated actor Danielle Brooks and J. Alphonse Nicholson―which is slated for an exclusive Los Angeles release on September 11, 2026, followed by a nationwide theatrical release on September 18, 2026. His expansive directorial catalog also includes helming the critically acclaimed Untold: Shooting Guards documentary for Netflix. Grounding his visual and literary work, he serves as a narrative storytelling professor at the University of Portland, his alma mater, where he also earned his Bachelor’s degree and competed as a Division-I collegiate basketball player, alongside holding a Master’s degree in Latin American Studies from Stanford University.