The Roots of Cowboy Culture: A Legacy Often Overlooked

I used to sit way too close to the TV when my granny and I watched rodeos. Bull riding was her favorite—she'd lean in, eyes locked on the screen, talking back to the cowboys like they were her cousins from down the way. I’d be inches from the screen, completely hypnotized, until I felt her hand on my shoulder. “Scoot back from that TV before you need glasses,” she’d warn.

In my head, I was already planning my future as a champion bull rider. The reality? The closest I ever got was climbing onto a mechanical bull in college, where I lasted a total of 1.3 seconds before hitting the floor with my legs straight in the air.

The truth is, cowboy culture runs deep in our blood. Long before being country was a TikTok trend and before the Cowboy Carter aesthetic. One in four cowboys were Black - a fact McGraw-Hill would never teach you.

From the few Black-owned ranches that still stand today to the legacy of Black rodeo champions, our connection to cowboy culture is undeniable. We are agriculturists, farmers, herders, and cowboys. The Black cowboy isn’t new—the world is just catching up.

Cowboys, Culture, & Community: What’s it’s like at a Black Rodeo

There’s nothing like the energy of a Black rodeo. It’s a full-body experience—the sound of hooves pounding against the dirt, the scent of leather and manure, and the curvature of the cowboy hats. It’s an experience.

From the moment you walk into the arena, you’re part of the family. The auntie scanning your ticket greets you like she’s known you forever. Inside, people are breaking into the latest line dance (and wait… when did we move past the Electric Slide? Auntie needs to catch up!). The culture is undeniable.

From there, it’s nothing but adrenaline. Young riders, some as young as five, barrel racing with the kind of fearlessness only a child can have. Then come the world-class athletes, the ones who make relay racing look like an art form—my favorite event. No offense to the NFL, but nothing about this is scripted. This is real grit, real skill, real stakes. These cowboys and cowgirls aren’t just riding for sport; they’re riding for prize money, bragging rights, and most importantly—their legacy. You feel the excitement of the relay racers bending the corner (woah woah) and the disappointment when a rider is bucked off the bull with 1.1 seconds on the clock.

Every competition is packed with action: steer wrestling, relay racing, bull riding, and calf roping. Each event is a testament to the strength, agility, and tradition that make Black Rodeo so special. This isn’t just a sport. It’s our heritage, our culture, our community—alive and thriving in every ride, every rope, every race.

Black rodeo is more than an event—it’s a celebration of our history, our talent, and our community. So, if you’ve never been, this is your invitation to pull up, show love, and experience it for yourself.