DALLAS — The legacy of Black cowboys and cowgirls will take center stage July 25 as the 37th Texas Black Invitational Rodeo returns to Fair Park Coliseum for an evening celebrating Western heritage, competition and culture.
Presented by the African American Museum, Dallas, the annual event begins at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. Organizers are encouraging attendees to purchase tickets early after last year’s rodeo sold out in advance.
The rodeo will feature traditional events, including bull riding, bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, barrel racing and the Pony Express Relay, with Black cowboys and cowgirls competing for cash prizes.
A Grand Entry Parade and a halftime performance by Chocolit Tye are also scheduled.
More than a sporting event, the Texas Black Invitational Rodeo highlights the often-overlooked role African Americans played in shaping the American West.
According to the African American Museum, Dallas, historians estimate that one in four cowboys during the late 19th century was Black, though their contributions have often been left out of traditional accounts of Western history.
This year’s rodeo also honors the legacy of the late Cleo Hearn, a National Rodeo Hall of Fame inductee widely known as “Mr. Black Rodeo.”
Hearn helped establish the Texas Black Invitational Rodeo alongside the late Dr. Harry Robinson Jr., founder of the African American Museum, Dallas, and spent decades creating opportunities for Black rodeo athletes while preserving the history of Black cowboys. Today, Hearn’s sons continue partnering with the museum to carry on that mission.
Founded in 1987, the Texas Black Invitational Rodeo has grown into one of the nation’s premier celebrations of Black Western heritage. Proceeds from the event support the African American Museum, Dallas, and its educational and cultural programs throughout the year.
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