I pulled on my boots and Stetson, and then “Cowboyed” up for a fun day with the Arizona Black Rodeo. There is a reason it is called “the hottest show on dirt.” I joined more than 9,000 enthusiastic rodeo fans cheer on the best African – American Cowboys and Cowgirls and see the dust fly. I was in for an exciting day of bull riding, tie -down roping, steer wrestling, and barrel racing. And of course, time to experience the 2018 Nissan TITAN.
The Nissan TITAN is absolutely home on the range, equipped with a powerful, 390-hp V8 engine and seven- speed automatic transmission. It’s been buffed up for 2018, with 20-inch black wheels and available rearview monitor with trailer guides. The TITAN XD SV and SL trims, Nissan offers the Midnight Edition Package which includes, black-trimmed headlights, black fog light surrounds, black midnight edition badging to name a few.
Besides the entertainment and great BBQ, the Arizona Black Rodeo provided an educational experience about the role African- Americans played in shaping the history of the Wild West.
During the height of cattle ranching , one in four cowboys were black slaves. The term cowboy was said to have been originated during the era of slave plantations where “fieldboy”, “houseboy” and “cowboy” were job titles for black slaves. Being a black cowboy was hard work from breaking horses to chuck wagon cooks.
After the President’s Lincoln Emancipation Proclamation, there were separate rodeos for blacks and whites. They were only allowed to perform after all the whites had been led out of the arena. But discrimination did not stop pioneer riders like Stagecoach Mary, Nat Love, Bass Reeves from doing what they loved. One the most famous rodeo stars was William “Bill” Pickett, creator of the “bulldogging” technique of steer wrestling, where cowboys grab the cattle by the horns and wrestle them to the ground.
Pickett was the first African-American to be inducted to the National Rodeo Hall of Fame.
Until next time,
Sandra
