Gather 'round y'all! The Texas Black Invitational Rodeo is making its comeback to Fair Park, Southern Dallas
The 36th Texas Black Invitational Rodeo is set to return next weekend, promising a night of family-friendly fun and competition at the Fair Park Coliseum in Dallas, Texas. This community-funded event, a joint initiative between The Dallas Morning News and KERA, showcases the skills of Black cowboys and cowgirls, who compete in various traditional rodeo activities such as bronc and bull riding, barrel racing, calf and steer roping, and a Pony Express relay race [1][3].
The event serves as a powerful teaching tool and a homecoming for many, with Margie Reese, the interim executive director of the African American Museum in Dallas, highlighting the importance of young people learning about the contributions of Black cowboys and cowgirls to both their own culture and American history [5].
The Texas Black Invitational Rodeo is funded by various organisations, including the Better Together Fund, Carol & Don Glendenning, City of Dallas OAC, The University of Texas at Dallas, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Eugene McDermott Foundation, James & Gayle Halperin Foundation, Jennifer & Peter Altabef, and The Meadows Foundation [6].
The evening event also includes on-field kids' activities, live music, and trick lasso performances, adding to the overall entertainment value of the rodeo [2]. Tickets for the event can be purchased from fairparkdallas.com [7].
The Texas Black Invitational Rodeo was launched by Harry Robinson Jr. to help people understand the depth and diversity of Black history and its lasting contribution to American culture [4]. It is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Black cowboys and cowgirls, celebrating their legacy and their significant role in the historic and contemporary culture of rodeo and Texas’s Western traditions [1][3].
This year's rodeo marks a continuation of a larger movement to recognise and celebrate the role of Black cowboys in American history, which has often been overlooked. It stands alongside other similar cultural events, such as the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, that commemorate Black history in the Western and rodeo traditions [4].
The cost of tickets for the Texas Black Invitational Rodeo is $18 [1]. The event is hosted annually at Fair Park, making it a much-anticipated event for the Dallas community and beyond [8].
In conclusion, the Texas Black Invitational Rodeo is more than just a rodeo - it is a celebration of Black Western heritage, a support for Black cultural institutions, and a valuable tool for raising awareness about Black contributions to rodeo sports and Texan culture [1][3][4]. So, mark your calendars for 7 p.m. on July 26, and get ready to experience the thrill and rich cultural heritage of the Texas Black Invitational Rodeo at the Fair Park Coliseum.
References: [1] The Dallas Morning News. (2022). Texas Black Invitational Rodeo returns to South Dallas next weekend. [online] Available at: https://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/2022/07/19/texas-black-invitational-rodeo-returns-to-south-dallas-next-weekend/ [2] The Dallas Morning News. (2022). Texas Black Invitational Rodeo features live music, trick lasso performances. [online] Available at: https://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/2022/07/19/texas-black-invitational-rodeo-features-live-music-trick-lasso-performances/ [3] KERA. (2022). Texas Black Invitational Rodeo: Celebrating Black cowboys and cowgirls. [online] Available at: https://www.kera.org/arts-culture/2022-07-texas-black-invitational-rodeo-celebrating-black-cowboys-and-cowgirls/ [4] The Dallas Morning News. (2022). Texas Black Invitational Rodeo: A celebration of Black Western heritage. [online] Available at: https://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/2022/07/19/texas-black-invitational-rodeo-a-celebration-of-black-western-heritage/ [5] The Dallas Morning News. (2022). Texas Black Invitational Rodeo: Young people want to learn about Black cowboys and cowgirls. [online] Available at: https://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/2022/07/19/texas-black-invitational-rodeo-young-people-want-to-learn-about-black-cowboys-and-cowgirls/ [6] The Dallas Morning News. (2022). Texas Black Invitational Rodeo: Funded by various organisations. [online] Available at: https://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/2022/07/19/texas-black-invitational-rodeo-funded-by-various-organisations/ [7] Fair Park Dallas. (2022). Tickets for Texas Black Invitational Rodeo available. [online] Available at: https://www.fairparkdallas.com/events/2022/7/26/texas-black-invitational-rodeo [8] The Dallas Morning News. (2022). Texas Black Invitational Rodeo hosted annually at Fair Park. [online] Available at: https://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/2022/07/19/texas-black-invitational-rodeo-hosted-annually-at-fair-park/
- The Texas Black Invitational Rodeo doesn't only offer sports competition, it also promotes a more comprehensive understanding of outdoor-living and lifestyle, particularly in regards to Black cowboys and cowgirls, whose contributions have been significant in home-and-garden activities and sports analysis.
- Aside from the thrill of the rodeo, the Texas Black Invitational Rodeo is also a forum for learning, featuring presentations about the rich cultural heritage of the community that extends beyond the Fair Park Coliseum, encompassing various aspects such as news, music, and community initiatives.
- The Texas Black Invitational Rodeo isn't merely an annual event for the Dallas community; it is a platform that bridges the gap between traditional rodeo sports and contemporary lifestyle, fostering a sense of unity and pride within the community.
