Blackbear was born in Columbia, South Carolina. He became a full-fledged cowboy when be began spending all his free time at his friend’s stables in New Jersey. He soon started hanging around and riding with what was to become the Federation of Black Cowboys. He is a retired electrical engineer, and he used to occasionally work as a bounty hunter. Blackbear did a lot of bronc riding, but in 1985, he broke his hip trying to break one of his horses. Now he takes it easy with his Tennessee Walker, Color Boy. He also spends his time at Cedar Lane and at schools educating kids about the forgotten black heroes of the west. His major influences include Deadwood Dick, Bass Reeves, Stagecoach Mary, Cherokee Bill and Edward Dixon.