ROGER NAYLOR 2022-08-30 11:21:43
An annual rodeo in Phoenix both entertains and celebrates the history and culture of African Americans in the Old West. Known as the “Hottest Show on Dirt,” the Arizona Black Rodeo in September draws thousands of spectators every year to cheer on the riding, roping and racing skills of competitors. Just as importantly, the event helps raise awareness of the significant role African Americans played on the Western frontier—historians estimate that as many as one in four of the cowboys riding the range in the late 1880s was Black. Bill Pickett, a Black cowboy and rodeo star from Texas, became known as the originator of bulldogging (or steer wrestling) and posthumously became the first Black honoree in the National Rodeo Hall of Fame. Even the fictional character the Lone Ranger was likely inspired by legendary African American lawman Bass Reeves, credited with more than 3,000 arrests. There are countless similar stories waiting to be told. Since 2011, the Arizona Black Rodeo keeps that history alive with a thrilling, fast-paced series of events designed for the entire family. Organizers strive to get more young people involved to preserve Western traditions. Their popular children’s rodeo gives kids a chance to get close to horses, ask questions and learn more about riding and rodeo events. They also offer scholarships to highschool kids who participate in rodeos or are interested in animal-related careers, continuing the legacy of the many Black cowboys, ranchers and rodeo stars before them.
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