Frontier & Field: Black Cowboys from Gold Rush to Superbowl LX

Frontier & Field is a Black History Month program presented during Super Bowl Week. It centers on a multidisciplinary panel exploring the historical, cultural, and therapeutic significance of Black equestrians in American history and contemporary life.

Together, the panel re-centers Black equestrian history within frontier narratives while examining its contemporary relevance to sports culture, mental health, and youth development.

About the Speakers

Dr. Damion L. Thomas is the Museum Curator of Sports at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), where he leads exhibitions, research, and public programs examining the cultural, political and social impact of sports in American life. His work explores the intersection of athletics, race, global politics and social justice.

Dr Thomas earned his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in U.S. history from UCLA and is a current faculty member at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. He previously served as a faculty member at the University of Maryland and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is the author of Globetrotting: African American Athletes and Cold War Politics, a widely acclaimed study of Black athletes as cultural ambassadors during the Cold War and how their struggles for dignity and equality reshaped global perceptions of the United States. A frequent speaker and panelist, Dr. Thomas has contributed to national conversations on sports and social change through museum dialogues, and academic forums. Through his scholarship and public engagement, he continues to illuminate the powerful role of sport in shaping American and global identity.

Shanna Whitfield is a member of Brotherhood and Sisterhood Riders Inc.—one of the riding clubs that participates in the Northern California Coalition of Black Cowboys and Cowgirls. Whitfield will share firsthand perspectives on contemporary Black cowboy and cowgirl culture. Drawing from lived experience within Northern California’s riding club community, they will highlight how these clubs sustain tradition through community events, horsemanship and mutual support.

Whitfield will also speak to the history and purpose of the Northern California Coalition of Black Cowboys and Cowgirls, emphasizing its role in keeping riding clubs connected across the state at a time when the visible presence of Black cowboys is diminishing. Through this work, Black cowboy traditions continue to provide mentorship, structure, cultural continuity, and a deep sense of pride—particularly for youth in urban and underserved communities—while preserving a living heritage rooted in land, discipline, and collective responsibility.

Daryl L. Fletcher is the heart and soul behind SOOFA Ranch and The Herd Leader Academy. His journey with horses is not just a career, but a lifelong passion that has shaped his very essence. With over 40 years of experience, Fletcher's relationship with horses transcends the ordinary. His story begins in the idyllic setting of his grandparents' farm, where summers were not just about leisure but about immersing oneself in the rhythms of nature, the challenges of agriculture, and the nuances of ranching. These early experiences were not merely about learning to tend to the land and its creatures; they were about absorbing life lessons that only such a setting can provide.

As the executive director of SOOFA Ranch, Fletcher has created a sanctuary where individuals can come to find peace, healing, and growth through their engagements with horses. His vision extends beyond just riding or horsemanship; it's about creating a space where humans and horses can connect on a deeper level, facilitating personal transformation. In his role as the CEO of The Herd Leader Academy, Fletcher takes his mission a step further by empowering individuals with the leadership skills inspired by the natural dynamics observed in horse herds. He believes that much like in a herd, effective leadership in our lives is about trust, communication, and mutual respect.

Speaker photos courtesy the speakers; illustration by ha11ok from Pixabay

Commonwealth Club World Affairs is a public forum. Any views expressed in our programs are those of the speakers and not of Commonwealth Club World Affairs.

SPEAKERS

Dr. Damion L. Thomas, Museum Curator of Sports, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Shanna Whitfield, Member, Brotherhood and Sisterhood Riders Inc.

Darryl Fletcher, Sr., Executive Director, SOOFA Ranch; CEO, The Herd Leader Academy

5:30 p.m. doors open & check-in
6-7:30 p.m. program
5–6 p.m. VIP meet-and-greet wine and light bites reception
(all times Pacific Time)

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