Polo Player Dale Johnson, Part 1

Dale Johnson is the descendent of Black cowboys.

In this podcast, Dale traces the history of his family, from New York state and a Black settlement in Texas called High Prairie to the Bay Area. His parents met at a park in the East Bay and Dale was born seven years later.

He grew up in "deep" East Oakland. He touches on some of the changes that he remembers, with industrial jobs being off-shored and drugs coming into previously prosperous, Black neighborhoods, comparing that to some of what has been happening in the so-called Rust Belt of the US and the different responses to each situation.

Special thanks to Liz Beeson of Caring Cowgirl for connecting us with Dale.

We recorded this podcast at Madonna Creek Ranch in September 2020.

Photography by Michelle Kilfeather