Black Americans and the Bow: Archery’s Quiet Revolution

For generations after emancipation, archery was a sport reserved for elite white clubs and private schools. Bows and arrows weren’t just expensive--the ranges themselves were tucked behind the gates of exclusivity. Black families, meanwhile, often relied on more practical hunting tools when it came to survival. Archery, with its glossy reputation as a gentleman’s pastime, wasn’t an easy lane to enter.

Yet, as with so many corners of American life, Black communities began to carve out their own space. Church groups, settlement houses, and eventually youth programs became the first places where young Black boys and girls could pick up a bow. It wasn’t about Olympic medals at first--it was about access. That access, even in small doses, planted seeds that would grow a century later.

The Coaches Who Opened the Range

One of the most remarkable modern stories belongs to Larry Brown, a Brooklyn native who started shooting as a child with a homemade bow carved by his father. Decades later, he founded Center Shot Archers, a program in New York City designed to bring archery to inner‑city youth. Brown didn’t just teach technique; he built a community where kids who never imagined touching a bow could find focus, discipline, and belonging.

From that program came Dallas Jones, who started shooting at age ten and went on to become the first Black U.S. national archery champion. His success is a testament to what happens when access finally meets opportunity. Coaches like Brown prove that representation in archery isn’t an accident--it’s the result of deliberate, persistent effort.

Black Girls with Bows

The image of a Black girl standing tall with a bow is still rare — and that’s exactly why it’s powerful. For too long, archery has been pictured as a suburban, almost exclusively white pursuit. But scroll through TikTok or YouTube today and you’ll see young Black girls showing off practice sessions, documenting tournament prep, and teaching others what it feels like to draw, aim, and release.

These aren’t just cute videos; they’re acts of cultural expansion. Every time a Black girl posts a clip of herself at the range, she chips away at stereotypes of who belongs in archery. She’s telling her community--and anyone watching--that precision, focus, and calm under pressure look good in braids, curls, and brown skin. And while the numbers are still small, the visibility is growing.

Why Archery Resonates

Archery has always been about more than hitting a bullseye. It’s about mental stillness, patience, and the quiet discipline that turns repetition into mastery. For Black Americans, entering archery is about reclaiming space. It’s a reminder that we belong anywhere skill and dedication can carry us--even in sports that were never designed with us in mind.

Studies on representation back this up: when young people see themselves reflected in a field, they’re more likely to step in and succeed. That’s as true in classrooms as it is on the archery range.

The Target Ahead

The story of Black Americans and archery is still unfolding. With each youth program, each new coach, and each girl or boy who picks up a bow for the first time, the narrative grows stronger. The path wasn’t easy to enter, but now it’s open — and the next generation is aiming higher than ever.

That legacy is what inspired our Vintage Archery Girls tee at The Trini Gee. It’s more than a design--it’s a nod to the quiet determination of Black girls with bows, past and present. The vintage style captures the timelessness of the struggle for representation, while the imagery speaks to the future we’re still building. Wearing it isn’t just fashion. It’s a reminder that precision, focus, and strength have always been part of our story.