CSSW Exhibit | Daughters of the Soil

Given the ways African American history (and women’s history) is often preserved through lived experience, oral tradition, and community memory, filmmaker Candace Bellamy speaks to the process of her next project, Daughters of the Soil.  Through contextual storytelling, conversation, and reflection, the spirit of Black cowgirls is revealed—their strength, grace, and unwavering commitment to a legacy often left untold.  

Special guest Quinceola Reid, the first Black female drover for the Fort Worth Herd, joins Bellamy to share her story and experience as a modern-day cowgirl.  

Candace Bellamy is a filmmaker, board-certified family medicine physician, musician, and emerging executive coach whose work lives at the intersection of art, equity, and healing. As a doctor for the military, she brings a deep sense of service, empathy, and advocacy to everything she creates.

Her first documentary, Healer: The Dr. Joycelyn Elders Story—which aired on San Antonio PBS and is now used in educational settings—follows the inspiring journey of the first African American Surgeon General of the United States, highlighting themes of leadership, representation, and resilience.

Candace’s current film, Daughters of the Soil: The Story of Black Cowgirls, continues her mission to shine a light on African American women who have shaped American history. Through a vérité filmmaking style, she captures stories that preserve culture, reclaim legacy, and expand how we see belonging in the American West.

Quinceola Reid is an accomplished equestrian-athlete, veteran, and public-health research professional. In 2022, she was the first Black woman to serve as a Drover for the Fort Worth Stockyards’ Longhorn herd, an achievement that earned regional media recognition and an Emmy nomination. In 2024, she and her horse partner Comrade earned a Top 10 finish in the AERC Roadrunner Chase 30-mile endurance competition.  

A former U.S. Navy aircrewman, loadmaster, and aircraft mechanic, Quinceola served six years detaching to more than 40 countries, logging 1100+ flight hours. After her military service, she graduated from Texas Christian University with a B.A. in Biology and a minor in Spanish for Health Professionals, cum laude. She now serves as a Public Health Research Associate at TCU’s Institute of Behavioral Research, conducting applied research and supporting clinical initiatives to address socioeconomic health disparities, HIV prevention and treatment, and substance-use disorders.