The Black Cowboys and Buffalo Soldiers Association

Growing up, every time I went to my grandparents’ house, my grandfather would be watching black-and-white cowboy shows and movies. It wasn’t until I got older that I began to understand the connection between Black men and their love for cowboys. Due to a lack of written history about Black cowboys, one might assume there isn’t any history there, but new Milwaukee filmmaker Natalie Derr is taking on her first film, Forged by Steele, to further tell the story of Black cowboys in Milwaukee.

According to The Guardian, America’s first cowboys were Black, and the term “cowboy” was specifically reserved for Black ranchers (Black enslaved individuals). The Guardian said historians estimate that one in four cowboys was African American, yet most Americans don’t know this history, which is why Derr is making her film, which is set to be released in March 2026.

Forged by Steele follows third-generation Black cowboy Issac Steele, the founder and president of The Black Cowboys and Buffalo Soldiers Association in Milwaukee. According to past articles from the Sentinel and the Journal, Steele teaches the history of the Buffalo Soldiers and Black cowboys while giving youth direct access to horses.

“Milwaukee needs to see this man, ” said Derr.

Steele is a descendant of the Buffalo Soldiers, who were African American soldiers who served in the U.S. Army after the Civil War; the term was created by Native Americans. Buffalo Soldiers were comprised of former enslaved individuals, freemen, and Black Civil War soldiers, who later became the first park rangers, protecting wildlife and parks until their regiments disbanded in 1951.

To see a Black man sitting on top of a horse on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Milwaukee is not something you see often, but Steele has spent generations ensuring community members know that Black cowboys exist.

According to The Insider, Steele came to Milwaukee from Mississippi in the 1970s, and he brought his knowledge of Buffalo Soldiers and Black cowboys to the city with him. Throughout the years, Steele has gone to local schools, Juneteenth parades, and other community events where he has used his knowledge, family history, and the presence of horses to encourage youth to stay off the streets.

Passing the Torch

In 2025, Steele is still spreading the knowledge of Buffalo Soldiers and the history of Black cowboys, but he’s also preparing to pass on the torch, and Kevin Nichols is there to keep the legacy going.

Nichols rode his first horse around three to four years old, thanks to his older brothers. Eventually, he started racing horses with his brothers and tagging along with them as his brothers brought horses to the city to impress girls. He jokingly admits he didn’t realize that’s what his brothers were doing until he got older.

Nichols said he has a bond with his horses and an overall love for livestock, including cows, sheep, goats, and chickens.

“Taking care of animals makes you a better person,” said Nichols.

Nichols met Steele through a mutual friend and, after several asks, finally joined The Black Cowboys and Buffalo Soldiers Association in February to help keep its message alive.

“After I seen all the history and what it meant…I said yes,” said Nichols.

This year, the organization made appearances at Milwaukee and Racine Juneteenths, the Black Arts Fest MKE, church and community events, and they work closely with the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee.

Horses have always meant the world to Nichols, but now he sees his work as a ministry.

Nichols’ horses reside outside of the city, but he hopes to be able to move closer as the organization grows.

“I wish it could be closer to the city to give more people access,” said Nichols.

Impact of the Film

Derr was introduced to Nichols, and she instantly knew Steele’s legacy and his work needed to be amplified. A few articles and footage have been taken of Steele’s work, but Derr believed that Steele’s story and the history of the Buffalo Soldiers and Black cowboys needed more documentation.

Along with making the film Forged by Steele, Derr created The Black Cowboy Association Photo Book, a book filled with original photos of Steele and Nichols taken by Kelvin Kazibwe, along with clippings of past coverage of Steele’s work. The photobook is available at the Milwaukee Public Library.

“This is a really important part of Milwaukee’s history. Everybody deserves access to wildlife. If you can bring a horse to the city…that’s just pure joy, and that’s a Milwaukee story that deserves to be highlighted,” said Derr.

She’s also connecting Nichols to free community resources to help boost the organization’s marketing and visibility.

“Natalie is the best. You won’t find a person as willing to invest into something that she doesn’t know where it’s going to turn around at,” said Nichols. “She has a special place in my heart.”

Forged by Steele is funded by a JOY grant and is expected to premiere at the Oriental Theatre in Milwaukee on March 29, 2026, at 3 p.m. CST.