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

The Compton Cowboys is an intimate book inviting us into the world of a group of inspiring horsemen and horsewomen. As you read the book, each chapter focuses on a particular individual. The stories are told in vignettes almost like a memoirits not linear.

You’ll learn about the visionary leader of Compton Junior Posse, Mayisha Akbar who in 1988, as a newly-divorced mom of three, stumbled upon the rural Richland Farms section of Compton, deciding that would be home. She wanted her kids to have access to horses and a farm-like setting as she did when she was a child, since she believed horses played an integral role in her personal development.

Over time Mayisha found many neighborhood kids werent having basic needs met and she opened her life and ranch to them, serving them through food, homework help, and more. The horses were the means by which she encouraged the children to grow in self-esteem, leadership and responsibility.

She has since passed the torch to her nephew Randy, and the name changed to Compton Junior Equestrians. The book covers Randy’s challenges and opportunities in continuing the legacy of keeping kids on horses and off the streets. The Compton Cowboys are essentially the alumni of Compton Junior Posse. Many of the individuals took a break from horses, but in recent years have returned to their love of horses, the black cowboy lifestyle and ranch community.

In addition to the leaders, you’ll meet people like Anthony, who found solace in his memories of horses while in prison. The joy and freedom the horses brought him propelled him to teach himself how to draw horses using the only art materials available-crushed Skittles. Upon exiting prison, he began working with horses at the ranch and now uses horses as a way to pick up his granddaughter from school. (Lucky kid!) 🙂

The stories made me sad, angry, laugh and learn history I never knew. It was exciting to learn Randy plans to expand the model of the Compton Junior Equestrians to other urban centers where children need to connect with horses, ranch life and each other in a safe environment.

Prepare to have your heart broken and your spirits lifted. You will be left with the question: what is my role to ensure access so kids who need the kindness and joy of horses the most can mount up and ride on?

For further thoughts, you can read my The Compton Cowboys Book Review blog post at saddleseekshorse.com.

Having worked in Compton during the 1990’s I was excited to learn more about those people I used to see on horseback. While there was a bit of the history included, much of the book was repetitive and infused with the author’s bias. Wish there had been more facts.
Also, not to split hairs, but the reader’s mispronunciation of common words and names was distracting as were the author’s grammatical errors.

A Well-written Account of and about the next generation of Compton Cowboys and their efforts to revamp a program to help give back to the Compton community the way they benefited as youth. Walter Thompson Hernndez adds their deeply personal stories involving the balance of living life on and off the ranch, and the precariousness they face outside. I found myself really rooting for each of them, and sincerely hope that they can and will revive the Compton Cowboy program, and will triumph personally as well.

Knowing something of the Compton Jr. Posse and their amazing mission, I wanted badly to like this book. Knew I could not love it because of the racial and socioeconomic tragedy that the Compton Cowboys and Posse represent.

Struggled to read it anyway to gain a greater awareness of all of the above. Until, that is, several tragic deaths of both people and horses were written about in graphic detail.

I had not the stomach to read further.

With deepest respect for Mayisha Akbar, the Compton Cowboys, and their culture.

Inspiration lives.

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