Known as the “GREATEST SHOW ON DIRT,” the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo celebrated its 40th anniversary by performing to a sold-out audience on June 20-21, at the Industry Hills Expo Center in the City of Industry.
Often coined as the Black Rodeo, the show offered attendees a chance to experience the excitement and excellence of Black cowboy and cowgirl culture, including food trucks and beverages, fashion, music, and thrilling rodeo competitions.
The event provided local Black horseback riding and rodeo organizations an opportunity to participate in aspects of the program, which include bareback riding/ranch bronc riding, bull riding, bull dogging, calf roping, Jr. and ladies breakaway roping, Pee Wee. Jr./ladies barrel racing, and ladies steer undercorating.
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According to the organization, the BPIR is a 40-year-old family event that celebrates its global popularity and the stories behind a sub-culture that is still strong today. The mostly African American crowd dressed to impress in their favorite cowboy and cowgirl outfits, and often singing in unison to old-school songs played by the DJ. The energy was electric and reflected in the crowd’s enthusiasm.
During the 1800s, Bill Pickett was the most famous African American rodeo performer, and the first Black cowboy movie star. He invented a way of controlling steers called “bulldogging,” and became a star attraction of the wild west shows.
“This event is an important thing to do because it rearranges the misconception that was taught in history, that [Black cowboys] didn’t exist,” said Obba Babatundé, Emmy Award-winning actor and loyal Black rodeo advocate/horseback rider.
