The Westward Bound: African American Country Music History and Cowboy Lore exhibit at the Berkeley Public Library in California was created to celebrate the pioneers of American roots music and Western history. This exhibit features a display of artifacts, including photographs, instruments, books, and memorabilia from Dom Flemons and Vania Kinard’s collection. Visitors will get a glimpse into the often-overlooked history of Black cowboys and some of the trailblazers in country music. The display cases will feature prominent figures such as Bass Reeves and Bill Pickett, alongside the musical legacies of black country artists ranging from DeFord Bailey, Solomon Burke, and Linda Martell to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album. Westward Bound: African American Country Music History & Cowboy Lore exhibit offers a unique opportunity to explore the connections between black western culture and its influence on American history. EXHIBIT: October 2024 to December 2024
Berkeley Public Library Testimonial
”The Library completed its Westward Bound: African-American Country Music History & Cowboy Lore partnership with curator Vania Kinard, musician Dom Flemons, and The Freight & Salvage in December 2024. The exhibit and related programs ended with a performance by the Black Banjo & Fiddle Fellowship and a live, curatorial tour of the exhibit with some special guests. Not only did curator Vania and Dom fly to Berkeley from outside Chicago, they were able to fly out from Chicago, Deford Bailey’s youngest child, Christina Bailey. Christina is 88 years old and a retired elementary school teacher who moved from Nashville to Chicago as a young woman. She expressed joy and pride to see the Berkeley Public Library honor her father with an exhibit and to see his legacy celebrated at the Freight & Salvage. Vania and Dom were able to also host David Morton, Deford Bailey’s biographer, at the exhibit as well as the out-going president of the Oakland Black Cowboy’s Association, Wilbert Freeman McAlister. Both the banjo performance and curator’s tour drew over 90 attendees.That same weekend as these two events, the Freight & Salvage hosted their three-day Deford Bailey Legacy tour. All three nights of the festival, the Library was acknowledged and thanked by the Freight’s executive director, Clayton Shelvin, Vania Kinard, and Dom Flemons.In total, the Library hosted the Westward Bound: African-American Country Music History & Cowboy Lore exhibit for almost two months. The partnership resulted in 11 Library programs at all locations and online. Programs were delivered to adults, children and families, and teens. All programming brought together 262 community together with many viewing the Library exhibit from October to December.”
-Heather Cummins, Supervising Librarian
