pancocojams: African American trail ride line dancing

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents information about Black cowboys in the United States in the past and in the present. (2020s)

This pancocojams post also showcases two YouTube videos about Black cowboys in the United States

In addition, this post presents some reasons why camouflage pants and/or shirts are popular fashion choices for African American trail ride line dancers. Three YouTube videos of some African American trail ride line dancers wearing camouflage attire are also showcased in this pancocojams post.

The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all those who are featured in theses showcase videos. Thanks also to the videographers and publishers of these videos on YouTube.

* "African American trail ride line dancing" is also referred to as "African American (Soul) country line dancing".

"African American trail ride line dancers" are also referred to as "Steppas, and "Steppaz" Both of these are African American Vernacular English spellings for the word "Steppers".

To be clear, camouflage shirts and/or pants aren't the customary attire of African American cowboys/cowgirls during trail rides or at any other time in the past or in the present (2020s).

This fashion choice has recently become associated with African American trail ride line dancers at actual trail rides or at other occasions such as African American line dancing classes when trail ride line dances are performed.

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EXCERPT OF A NPR RADIO PROGRAM ABOUT CONTEMPORARY BLACK AMERICAN COWBOYS AND COWGIRLS
From https://www.npr.org/2024/05/30/nx-s1-4978783/black-cowboys-trail-rides-are-an-expression-of-family-tradition-and-creole-culture "Black cowboys trail rides are an expression of family, tradition and Creole culture", May 30, 2024 Heard on All Things Considered
By Anna Adams

Black cowboys in rural Louisiana spend their weekends trail riding with family and friends to celebrate tradition and culture.

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

On many weekends in rural Louisiana, Black cowboys get together for trail rides. These rides are an expression of family, tradition and Creole culture. BBC reporter Anna Adams spent a day riding with them.

[…]

ADAMS: Trail riding is a way of life here. Most towns have a club, and they meet almost every weekend. It's often a family affair and multigenerational, and you can spot the bigger clubs by their matching embroidered shirts.

[…]

ADAMS: Black horsemanship goes back to a time when the Louisiana prairies were like the Wild West. Horses were a big part of daily life for people of color who worked the land in antebellum times. And their descendants, like Drake LeBlanc, are still meeting in the same fields where their ancestors worked.

[…]

ADAMS: But despite this history, most people still think of cowboys as being white, something LeBlanc wants to challenge.

LEBLANC: I think what has happened today is that our culture, Black culture and Creole culture in America has redefined what it means to be a cowboy and associated a bunch of different elements, whether it's fashion, whether it's horsemanship, which is one of the bigger parts of it."...

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TWO SHOWCASE YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CONTEMPORARY COWBOYS AND COWGIRLS

SHOWCASE VIDEO #1 Black Cowboys of America

News 4 (WOAI) San Antonio, Oct 24, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7ePC_m8QgA

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Riding Club Upholds the Legacy of the Black Cowboy | NowThis

NowThis Impact, Jul 26, 2020 #Cowboy #Texas #News

This Texas-based riding club has been upholding the legacy of the Black cowboy for nearly 70 years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OnmMy1xuCY

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"WHY ARE CAMOUFLAGE PANTS AND/OR SHIRTS SO POPULAR AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN TRAIL RIDE DANCERS?

This is the complete AI Overview write up for my September 19, 2026 query on this subject.

" AI Overview

"In African American trail ride and soul line dancing culture, wearing camouflage shirts, pants, or jumpsuits is a highly popular fashion statement rooted in a blend of practicality, club identity, and urban-Western style.

The choice to wear camouflage comes down to several key factors:
1. Unified Club Uniforms and Theme Days
African American trail rides are massive, multi-generational outdoor festivals organized by local riding clubs. To stand out and show solidarity, individual clubs often print custom-matching group shirts

-Camouflage is one of the most popular patterns used for custom group apparel.

-Many weekend-long trail rides feature designated "Camo Days" or themes where hundreds of attendees collectively wear camouflage to hit the dance floor together.

2. Practicality for the Outdoor "Trail Ride"
Environment:Before the line dancing begins at the campsite or main stage, participants spend hours riding horses, ATVs, or trucks through dusty, wooded, or muddy rural trails.

Camouflage is highly functional outdoor gear.

It is durable, rugged, and excellent at hiding dirt, dust, and sweat accumulated during a long day under the sun before transitioning directly into nighttime socializing and dancing.

3. A Nod to "Boots on the Ground" Style
The phrase "Boots on the Ground" is a prominent theme and line dancing anthem in the trail ride community (popularized globally by dancers like Tre Little).

Because the phrase has strong military undertones, dancers frequently lean into military-inspired fashion—combining camouflage cargo pants or tactical gear with western cowboy boots, matching hats, and oversized clack fans.
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Here are the sources that were credited in that AI Overview write-up:

https://www.pinterest.com/kyraaaah/camo-trail-ride-fits "camo/ trail ride fits" "17 Pins by kyra, 2025

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https://www.npr.org/2024/05/30/nx-s1-4978783/black-cowboys-trail-rides-are-an-expression-of-family-tradition-and-creole-culture Black cowboys trail rides are an expression of family, tradition and Creole culture, May 30, 2024 Heard on All Things Considered By Anna Adams

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https://www.pinterest.com/ideas/trailride-shirt-ideas-black-people/948574498867/ Trailride Shirt Ideas Black People"

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https://www.tiktok.com/discover/trail-ride-outfits-camouflage
This link leads to multiple tik tok channels. Many of these channels showcase White people.

https://www.etsy.com/market/black_trailrides

https://www.tiktok.com/discover/camo-jumpsuit-trail-ride
-snip-
This link leads to multiple tik tok channels. Many of these channels showcase White people.

https://www.facebook.com/APNews/posts/tre-littles-viral-boots-on-the-ground-moves-have-introduced-trail-ride-line-danc/1147285323926042/

https://doi.org/10.1080/03612112.2025.2509455 The Journal of the Costume Society of America

Volume 51, 2025 - Issue 2: "Black and Creole Louisiana Trailriders Negotiating Appearance, Gender, and Representation through Trailride Dress" by L. Danielle Honeycutt,Casey Stannard & Michael E. Mamp

Pages 173-189 | Published online: 02 Sep 2025

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SHOWCASE YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF SOME AFRICAN AMERICAN TRAIL RIDE LINE DANCERS WEARING CAMOUFLAGE

These videos are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

SHOWCASE VIDEO #1- Follow Me

Yaya Rodriguz, Nov 18, 2024