The Compton Cowboys are a group of young African-American men who grew up in broken homes, in poverty and surrounded by gang violence in Compton, California. With seemingly every odd stacked against them, their futures didn’t hold much promise—let alone a guarantee to make it out alive. But with the creation of the Compton Jr. Posse—a youth program set on a horse ranch in the middle of Compton—they found a safe space. Riding their horses around Compton means the Cowboys are less likely to be stopped and searched by police and lessens the risk from gangbangers.
This young readers’ edition will introduce the people who established the ranch and posse and created a path toward safety and salvation for a number of kids of Compton—kids who, because of the Cowboys, were able to leave a life of gangs and violence, overcome physical traumas, and pursue a future of purpose and meaning.
In addition to reading about this fascinating group, kids will get to see the posse and the horses that saved their lives. The author, Walter Thompson-Hernández, initially wrote about the Compton Cowboys in a New York Times article that featured photographs that he took of them. This young readers' edition includes an eight-page color insert with all-new photos. Ages 8 to 12.