STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Long before Hollywood popularized images of the American West, Black cowboys and cowgirls played a central role in shaping frontier life — driving cattle, taming horses and building communities with skill and determination.
On Friday, that legacy took center stage on Staten Island as Roc-A-Natural Foundation presented the Third Annual Freedom Ball Fundraiser at LiGreci’s Staaten in West Brighton, where local dance troupe the Western Pulse Ensemble brought those often-overlooked stories to life through music and movement.
More than 120 guests embraced the Western theme with coordinated outfits featuring denim, plaid and cowboy accessories. Ensembles included wide-brimmed hats, bright bandanas, plaid vests, light-wash jeans and tall white cowboy boots…