New Series “Beyond Black Beauty” Blends Classic Story with Black Cowboy Culture
Black cowboy culture is getting its due spotlight in the new Prime Video series Beyond Black Beauty, which adapts the 1877 novel Black Beauty with a unique twist: an 11-episode narrative centering around a Black family, specifically Black girls and women. In the series, Jolie Dumont, a teen equestrian, is thrust from her comfortable life in Belgium to her family’s century-old ranch in Baltimore, where she discovers more about her roots, riding skills, and Black cowboy culture.
From Belgium to Baltimore: Jolie’s Journey
Jolie’s journey begins after her parents separate, forcing her to leave her father’s home in Belgium and relocate to Baltimore, where her mother’s family has owned a ranch for generations. Alongside her cousin Ronnie and under the guidance of her aunt Yvonne, Jolie discovers her family’s deep legacy in horse culture. This new life introduces her to Western riding styles and a broader cultural experience that highlights Black equestrian history, portrayed with authenticity by showrunner Pilar Golden.
Golden, originally from Maryland, intentionally set the show in Baltimore, aiming to show a different side of the city. “Audiences are familiar with Baltimore through the lens of The Wire, which is one of my favorite shows,” Golden said, but she wanted to paint a new portrait — one showcasing a proud Black family driven by legacy and ownership. “They’ve owned their land for a hundred years, and they’ve been at the forefront of cowboy culture for a hundred years.”
A Love Letter to Black Women and Family Legacy
The show is deeply personal for Golden, who described Beyond Black Beauty as “a love letter to the Black women who raised me.” She took on the challenge of bringing Black Beauty into the 21st century, infusing it with themes of empowerment, family, and resilience, while centering Black women’s experiences.
In addition to Jolie, viewers meet a family rich in character: Jolie’s mother, Janelle; her grandparents; her cousin Ronnie; a potential love interest, Alvin; and a rekindling of Janelle’s relationship with an old flame, Rashad. Jolie’s bond with her horse, Beauty, adds a layer of depth to her journey as she navigates her dual passion for English riding, which she practiced in Belgium, and the Western style her family introduces.
Bringing Black Cowboy Culture to Life
To capture the Black cowboy experience accurately, Golden consulted Erin Brown, also known as “Concrete Cowgirl.” Brown, who worked on the Netflix film Concrete Cowboy, praised Beyond Black Beauty for its genuine portrayal of Black equestrian life. “I grew up in that culture, and it’s so similar to Beyond Black Beauty,” Brown said, noting how this series and others, like Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” album and films like The Harder They Fall, have broadened awareness of Black cowboy culture.
Kaya Coleman, who stars as Jolie, admitted that joining the show taught her about Black cowboy culture, which wasn’t something she had known about before. “I was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. We have a lot of horses here, but I always felt it was for a specific culture. So when I learned about Black cowboy culture, it made sense in my soul,” Coleman shared.
A New Generation’s Glimpse into Black Equestrian Heritage
Beyond Black Beauty celebrates Black heritage and the richness of cowboy culture, inspiring a younger audience to explore a legacy that many, like Coleman, hadn’t realized was theirs to claim. The series offers a refreshing and enriching perspective on classic equestrian stories, highlighting a family’s journey of resilience, legacy, and pride.
