Let’s Go, Let’s Show, Let’s Rodeo: African American Involvement in Rodeo

This Ain’t My First Rodeo: Ethnic Minority Involvement in Rodeo
By
Dr . Tracey Owens Patton
Research co-author: Sally Schedlock, MA
Presented at ShephardSymposium for
Social Justice
April 7, 2011

Goal
Our book-in-progress examines over one hundred years of rodeo and its tumultuous relationship with cowgirls and ethnic minorities.

Summary verview
Rodeo’s history is viewed as traditionally White: however, rodeo has many Ethnic Minority influences that have been overlooked
Rodeo has a history of covert and overt racism that is rarely acknowledged

In this presentation, we will discuss Chapter 7: the involvement of ethnic minority participants in rodeo from the inception of rodeo to present day.
Thus, the research question is:
RQ: What are the roles Ethnic Minority Cowboy/Cowgirls participate in rodeo past to present?

African American Rodeo History
٭§ Been involved in Agriculture since slavery
٭§ Active rodeo participants since 1800’s

Bill Pickett
Bill Pickett, founder of modern steer wrestling in a signature move. (photo courtesy of BillPickett.com)

Jackson Sundown, George Fletcher, John Spain
Jackson Sundown at the Pendleton Roundup, n.d. (angelaswedberg.blogspot.com).
George Fletcher at the Pendleton Roundup, n.d.) ((www.historycooperative.org)
John Spain at the Pendleton Rodeo, n.d. (historycooperative.org).

Fred Whitfield
“Like a lion poised to pounce, Whitfield sets up for a winning run at La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Rodeo in Tucson” (Ehringer, 1999, p. 205).

Jessie Stahl
Photo courtesy of American Heritage Center, Laramie, Wyoming

American Indians Cowgirls and Cowboys
Research indicates with cattle herding, parades, sports gatherings, finery, and presence of clowns, there has been substantial cultural borrowing for modern rodeo (Kirsch, Harris, Nolte (2000) p. 389).
American Indian involvement rodeo is still limited to “exotic” other i.e. rodeo Indian races, teepee shows, and Indian dances.
Perspective of rodeo is different: be one with animal vx. Domination of animals

Latino/a Cowgirls and Cowboys
Historically, Spanish settlers are noted for bringing charreadas to the New World (America) with performances of steer wrestling, riding horses, bulls, and roping (Kirsch, Harris, Nolte, 2000, p. 389).
After the Mexican War 1846-48: Vaqueros taught Anglos how to ride, rope, and work cattle—which then also helped build the foundation for modern rodeo
As with American Indians and African American cowboys—Latino/a competitors were used to promote rodeo with “exotic” other perspectives to draw a paying crowd

Minority Women
Research for this chapter has shown the ethnic minority cowboys are more prevalent and easier to find.
Ethnic minority women contestants are fewer and farther between.
Due to cultural constraints (collectivistic vs. individualistic) impacted the role of EM cowgirl involvement.
Majority of women’s roles were as the rodeo sponsor girl or rodeo queen (although these roles were held majority by American Indian women).

Cowgirl Images
Princess Winona, a White woman masquerading as an Indian Princess. (Flood, 2000).
Indian Princess Leah presenting President Truman at the Calgary Stampede (Burbick, 2002).
Latina cowgirl, unnamed and undated. (Flood, 2000).

Reasons Ethnic Cowgirls and Cowboys are marginalized in rodeo roles
٭ § Racist standards marginalized rodeo contestants achievements and cast them in roles of “exotic other”
٭§ Covert and overt racism
٭§ Jim Crow and Segregation Laws influenced rodeo’s history
٭§ 1950’s Southwestern Colored Cowboy’s Association created own circuit

Modern Day Rodeo
Ethnic Minority Cowgirls like Kaila Mussell, and Cowboys like Fred Whitfield and Abe Morris create a new emerging roles where both genders are able to compete in an equal arena.
The changes are small but significant as the their competition in the larger circuits such as the PRCA does allow more Ethnic Minority cowboys and cowgirls to compete as equals

Stagecoach Mary

Let’s Go, Let’s Show, Let’s Rodeo: African American Involvement in Rodeo

by SSSJ on Apr 06, 2011

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Let’s Go, Let’s Show, Let’s Rodeo: African American Involvement in Rodeo Presentation Transcript