All the real cowboys will be found March 29 gathered ’round the campfire, enthralled with the tales of Cowboy Carter. Only after being lured by the catchy sounds of “Texas Hold Em” and “16 Carriages,” sung by THEE Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, of course.
And if you’re like me, you might have several Cowboy Carters on the way of the Red, White and Blue variety. They’ll be in my hands just in time to join the jamboree with the rest of the yee-haw crew. 🤠
Cowboy Carter is set to feature songs with titles like “American Requiem,” “Desert Eagle” and “Levi’s Jeans,” which is cool because my barely-here nephew is named Levi. He was born right in the countriest of American country, Arkansas. I believe this is a land full of cowboys who never, ever left.
“Rose” and “Riverdance” are two song titles that stick out and intrigue me the most for a variety of reasons. For time’s sake, I’ll name two. One is history. Let’s start this off by saying I love history. There is no rhyme or reason for my digging into historical archives except the fact that I find it fun. That being said, it’s not lost on me that a flower died around 1746 upon the lands from whence the Riverdance was created.
WHOA! What does this have to do with Cowboys and Beyoncé?
Well, that requires you to be aware of a rarely-told history of Texas involving the Scottish, Irish and Mexicans. Did you know Dallas means “waterfall” in Scottish Gaelic? Houston and Austin are also Gaeilic. Back in the day, Stephen F. Austin granted lands to the Scots, Irish and Tejanos for helping Texas break away from the United States. I found three of our family names listed among the clans granted land in Old Texas, including the virtuous Clan Maclean on my father’s side.
this ain’t texas! 🐎
As it turns out, I am a descendant of the House of Stuart. My ancestors were exiled from Scotland to America for their participation in the Jacobites Risings. The Jacobite Risings were essentially Scotland’s disapproval of the House of Hanover ruling over them, following Mary, Queen of Scots’ reign. Mary is my great aunt-cousin, by the way; meaning if she were alive today, I’d so be on the Christmas list.
In fact, my great-grandfather arrived in Virginia with my great-grandmother sometime after 1746, then settled in Mississippi, where my family is still in possession of acres of land (our literal land of milk and honey). The Scots shipped to America were described as “do,” “swarthy,” “tawny,” “black” or “dark,” according to historical documentation.
My family lore is well documented in history books, movies, and TV shows, including Disney’s The Gargoyles, and I had zero clue.
Now, I won’t get too deep on this light-hearted post, but just know, Black Americans are American. Cowboy Carter is American. We are American and America, and all of its children, will learn America’s authentic history; and they will love it, appreciate it, and respect the people who built it.
It was around 2018 that I learned of Beyoncé’s uncovering of something interesting in her family tree.
“I researched my ancestry recently and learned that I come from a slave owner who fell in love with and married a slave,” Beyoncé told VOGUE in 2018. “I had to process that revelation over time. I questioned what it meant and tried to put it into perspective. I now believe it’s why God blessed me with my twins. Male and female energy was able to coexist and grow in my blood for the first time. I pray that I am able to break the generational curses in my family and that my children will have less complicated lives.”
– Beyoncé Knowles, Vogue, 2018
In my family’s case, my great-grandmother was included in the will and her children not only bore the McClain last name, but the names of my great-grandparents, which included my great-grandfather who traveled to America after being exiled from Scotland.
untempered mortar. 🧱
Naturally, I wonder if Bey’s polarizing ancestral findings helped to inspire the the making of Cowboy Carter. If so, I’ve concluded that Beyoncé is Cowboy Carter.
Or maybe this is all one big coincidence! Regardless, I implore Black Americans with pre-Civil War American roots to listen to what your eyes are telling you.
Nevertheless, I just want to say how excited I am for this Beyoncé album, all of the fancy cowboy hats to follow, and the Blackbirds.
Oh yes, I have to mention the Blackbirds. I discussed Blackbirds, “Run This Town,” and untempered mortar recently with my Dad. So, I believe “Blackbirds” plays a very important in this tale. Though I have not heard the project yet, I have a cool feeling that the song will lead me to even more easter eggs and gems! YAY!
I’ll be back when Cowboy Carter arrives. I suspect Beyoncé’s forthcoming chitlin circuit tour will entail plenty No Man’s Land storytelling and enlightenment for Black American’s. Oh baby, the renaissance is not over.
Next, I will follow-up with my research and findings for Act 1 Renaissance after the conclusion of Act 3, her ninth album, with the help of my Father, who assures me the Carters’ know a thing or two about what it means to be born free. At some point, when the vibes is right, there will be a similar breakdown for Travis Scott, Thomas More and Utopia.
SOURCES:
Fehrenbach, T. R. (2000). Lone Star: A history of Texas and the Texans. Da Capo Press.
Forbes, J. M. (1903). Jacobite Gleanings from State Manuscripts: Short Sketches of Jacobites; the Transportations in 1745. O. Anderson and Ferrier.
Townend, W. (1858). The descendants of the Stuarts, an unchronicled page in England’s history. United Kingdom: (n.p.).
Rogers, T. (n.d.). American History The Old 300. Electric Scotland. https://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/old300.htm.
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