Black pioneers migrated West for personal, economic, social, religious, and political reasons. Those who made the journey contributed to the development of the West—navigating the exploration of its territory, stewarding land and livestock, serving in the military, and fulfilling the essential American ideal of entrepreneurship. Led by Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi, six exhibiting artists (Lauren Austin, Beverly Kirk, Dorothy Burge, Georgia Williams, L’Merchie Frazier, and Ora Clay) discuss the important legacy of the Black presence in the West, including some of the people and events who inspired the works of art on display in our current special exhibition.