After the Civil War, African-American veteran Caleb Revers (Bill Cosby, in his first full-length feature role) heads for Arizona to homestead with his wife (Gloria Foster) and son (George Spell). At first, Caleb's skin color seems not to matter; a neighbor even lends him a horse to get started. But soon, the animal is stolen by racist thieves who are out to cause trouble for Caleb and his family.