> used in the British Isles from 1820 to 1850 to describe young boys who tended the family or community cows
This sounds like exactly the kind of definition that would get appropriated to belittle slaves. See also simply, “boy.”
This sounds like exactly the kind of definition that would get appropriated to belittle slaves. See also simply, “boy.”
The term was used for family and community farms, not for large ranches / plantations.
The fathers and sons would tend to a small head of cattle used to feed their family and the community. They did not and could not afford to own slaves.
Plus the term was used well after Britain outlawed slavery.
Many of the cowhands working side by side vaqueros were literal boys (15-17) and very young men.
In Texas it's very common to call a young man a boy.
Currently it's a baseless accusation that it was a derogatory term, even moreso that it's racial.
It's never been mentioned as such until now, well past the high days of cowboys.