Entertainment
EXCLUSIVE: New short film details the role of black excellence in rodeo
Texas boasts the nation’s largest rodeo, the famed Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, a stage where the nation’s top athletes, including expert bull riders and calf drivers, showcase their talents. However, in the historical context of rodeo in Texas, the significant contributions of black cowboys and herders have often been overshadowed, although they played a key role in shaping the sport into the cultural phenomenon it’s today.
The story begins in Crockett, Texas, a spot where the roots of black cowboy culture run deep, intertwining with the very fabric of rodeo history. It was here Myrtis Dightman Sr., dubbed the “Jackie Robinson of Rodeo”, becoming the first black cowboy to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo.
Although RodeoHouston’s origins date back to 1932, trail riding remained largely segregated until people like Dightman and his compatriots forged their very own path. Houston-based director Isaac Yowman explored authentic narratives surrounding black cowboys, shedding light on previously obscure truths. “The trail rides actually started with the Houston Live Show and Rodeo, and they met at Memorial Park every year,” he explains. “It’s principally an enormous block party where people come from throughout the state of Texas. However, the Prairie View Trail Ride covers 140km on horses, buggies and wagons, and I do not think many individuals know this about rodeo culture.
Reflecting on Dightman’s journey, Yowman recalls a poignant exchange. “When Myrtis Dightman Sr. rode his first bull in 1966, I asked him if he thought he was making history. Responsibly. If I want to do something, I’ll just do it.” Dightman’s determination challenged the skepticism of his peers, echoing the sentiment captured in his easy yet profound response: “Have you tried it?”
Yowman says, “I assumed it was so easy. Such a straightforward statement, yet so prolific. When I take into consideration anything in life, there can be individuals who might imagine your ambitions are unrealistic. There could also be people around you who haven’t got the foresight to realize your goals, and that is uncharted territory, but in the event that they query the feasibility, it’s essential to ask them:?
Decades later, Dightman’s legacy is flourishing, not confined to the history books but embodied by his descendants. Adia Dightman and her family proceed to hold the torch, keeping the flame of cultural trailblazing burning brightly. Their story is the centerpiece of Yowman’s short film, created in collaboration with Adidas and Jennifer Ford of Premium Goods.
Yowman and his team traveled to Crockett, Texas, where Dightman’s estate stretches over 150 acres. In an clan, everyone from the smallest children to the elderly participates in trail rides as part of their historical heritage. “For the director, this project was really intriguing because as a child, when I was growing up, I didn’t have the opportunity to spend time with my grandparents, either on my mother’s or father’s side. It was truly amazing for me to see five generations of a family at once. The youngest Dightman was one year old, the oldest was Myrtis Dightman Sr., who was 88 or 89,” Yowman reflects.
As the Dightmans’ legacy continues, so does their impact on rodeo culture. Myrtis Dightman Jr., often called “The Trail Boss,” leads the PV Trail Riders Association, a testament to the family’s enduring commitment to heritage. “There is a lot of legacy in their history,” Yowman explains. “They call him [Junior] “Trail Boss” and just seeing him carry on his dad’s legacy is incredibly admirable. Founded by Dightman Sr., Dr. Alfred N. Pointdexter and James Francis, PV Trail Riders has proudly participated in the annual Houston Rodeo trail rides for 70 years.
Another remarkable aspect of the Dightman family’s legacy is its pioneering efforts to not only integrate trail riding but in addition embrace women – a groundbreaking move in the early Nineteen Sixties when such practices were virtually unheard of. “At that time, there was no thought of women empowerment. For them, it was bold to include women in their rides. I actually met a woman, Miss Fuller; who appears in the film, has been riding with Dightman for decades. It was really great to see how willing they were to engage with the rodeo culture,” Yowman says.
As popular culture increasingly embraces country music in mainstream circles, there’s an ideal opportunity to attract attention to the role of women in each the rodeo and country music spheres. This cultural shift is reflected in Beyoncé Knowles-Carter’s recent announcement of her upcoming country album, aptly titled .
“As a Texan, you grow up in this place. You better believe Beyoncé got a drip from people who embraced cow culture before her, like the women of Prairie View Trail Rides,” Yowman jokes. “She said it in the ‘Formation’ song ‘Mama Louisiana.’ This Louisiana, this Texas, this Cajun, this country, this zydeco – we grow up on it as Texans. Whether you are super immersed in the culture or not, you are already doing it – rodeo is an enormous deal. I feel black women coming into the country, rodeo culture could be very essential for people to see.”
In creating this short film, creatively, Yowman wanted viewers to grasp how Black people, and particularly Black women, come forward. As a culture, we should not a monolith, he emphasizes. Like Beyoncé’s long-awaited album, it’s a poignant return to a culture that has all the time been inherently ours, despite historical oversight and lack of recognition.
The film is a strong affirmation of Black agency and cultural ownership. It is a reminder that despite historical challenges and systemic barriers, black rodeo culture thrives and endures. It is a declaration that black culture belongs to us and deserves to be celebrated, recognized and revered.
Entertainment
Fans are declaring that Katt Williams is now Tyler Perry’s “Nemesis” after the comedian purchased a former military base just like Perry once did for his studio
Katt Williams is now, no less than partly, considered a Hollywood whistleblower, but he desires to be known for calling the shots.
According to reports, the Emmy-winning actor and comedian is doing just that after purchasing a property that will house his own film studio.
“I can’t reveal the amount or the exact location yet, but I can confirm that he purchased a former military base in Alabama,” Williams’ publicist Amy Sisoyev confirmed. AL.com.
Various media reports, equivalent to the outlet mentioned above, focused on Fort McClellan in Anniston, which was listed for sale for $1.5 million. The 3-million-square-foot property includes 10 barracks, several buildings and 90 acres of flat, undeveloped land.
Williams was reportedly a frequent visitor to the purchase. “This is a visionary endeavor and we look forward to the evolution of this historic site under his leadership,” said Connie Alexander, Luxe Group broker representing the seller.
The comedian first revealed his plans to grow to be a Tyler Perry-like mogul in a recent interview GQ published on November 20.
Regarding his plans for the studio, the Money Mike actor said: “It’s not fair that we’re putting this much pressure on Tyler Perry. There’s only a lot he can do.”
Earlier this 12 months, the billionaire entertainment mogul was amongst the celebrities named in Williams’ explosive “Club Shay Shay” discussion with host Shannon Sharpe.
Katt Williams killed two birds with one stone until Rickey Smiley and Tyler Perry in dresses
Not a single f was given 😂😂😂
pic.twitter.com/EMtHo8gY6i— P. Against the world🤘🏿🕊 (@chillin662) January 3, 2024
Perry, a producer and director who also writes all of his projects, purchased most of the former Fort McPherson military base in 2015. The 330-acre installation positioned in southwest Atlanta is currently home to Perry’s state-of-the-art Tyler Studio.
The “Madea” star movies his shows and films on campus, which also rents out its quite a few sound stages to outside productions. Perry’s name got here up as Williams addressed a rift between him and fellow comedian Rickey Smiley over a decades-old film role.
The stand-up comedian told Sharpe: “I signed a contract saying I won’t work with Rickey Smiley again unless he’s in a dress. What was Rickey Smiley’s next movie? Was this the “first Sunday”? Was he wearing this dress? I bet you do; it’s in my contract. In this respect, he is a credible actor. He and Tyler Perry cannot play man to save lots of lives. They are played by good women and I imagine that the best actor should play the best role.
These demeaning words resurfaced as social media users reacted to news of the takeover. “The same guy who said that TP is now doing….nvm” – we read in certainly one of them tweet.
Second user he stated“Good for Katt. I’m glad they’re learning from Tyler Perry, the man in the dress. Tyler was first, he’s 50 now (it wasn’t a former military base, but you get the idea) and Katt. Continue to use your dress money to set an example for Tyler. “I can’t wait for Katt to introduce the community.”
50 Cent had the honor of getting his day in Shreveport, Louisiana after purchasing several properties, including G-Unit Film & TV Studios.
Tyler Perry just gained Katt Williams as his studio owner/arch-nemesis, and that was exactly the news I needed today. 😭😭😭 https://t.co/H547LtVWED
— Sassington, MC (@MissSassbox) November 22, 2024
And the third individual he tweeted“Anti-tyl3r Perry and I feel that Katy will allow new, new BLACK talent to tell their stories here too, instead of being the only one making videos here.” But much more wrote messages congratulating Williams on his business enterprise.
At least one person saw the Emmy winner’s entry into the executive entertainment sphere as a likelihood to bring recent talent to the forefront.
“Please hire new writers and production staff. “This could be a really innovative move for Black filmmakers,” this person said he wrotethis sentiment was echoed by Loni Love after Perry’s “Black Divorce” premiered on Netflix.
“I love that Tyler is now paying black actors. “I wish he had hired black writers and directors with experience to help him with his films,” she wrote in X in July.
At this time, it is unclear when Katt Williams will begin to make progress in transforming military land. In the meantime, fans can expect to see him on the road again starting in January with his “Heaven on Earth” tour.
Entertainment
Widow of Stephen ‘tWitch’ boss Allison Holker slammed for dating a white boy after years of naive comments about raising children in white communities
Allison Holker, widow of Stephen “tWitch” Boss, is clearly living her best life along with her recent man, but some fans aren’t too completely happy along with her.
On November 20, Holker posted a photo of her and her boyfriend Adam Edmunds embracing in what appears to be a street. She wore a dark dress with matching heels while her lover kept it casual in light pants and a dark shirt.
She wrote: “Thankful and happy! @adam.edmunds” in the caption.
Before dating Edmunds, Holker was on target to succeed in 10 years of marriage to “So You Think You Can Dance” star Stephen “TWitch” Boss. The couple met in 2006, but only made their relationship public in 2012. They married a yr later, in 2013.
However, Boss tragically committed suicide in December 2022, leaving Holker with two children and a stepdaughter with Holker.
Since her soft begin to her relationship with Edmunds, Holker has faced criticism about her leaving the Boss too quickly.
One person commented on this topic post“I frolicked in her shoes. My husband committed suicide a month after Twitch, which was almost 2 years ago, and I can not even imagine being in a relationship with someone that quickly. I even have two daughters who lost their dad and that is what I’m focused on without delay.”
Another one that responded in a different way said, “Can I just remind everyone who says ‘she moved on quickly’ that the marriage vows are ’till death do us part’ and NOT ’till death do us part’ you then will likely be sad for 10 years.” I can move on! Be completely happy for her. She has someone who will love her again and people beautiful girls of hers. If you possibly can’t be completely happy for her then possibly don’t comment…. I’m just saying…”
But another person felt concern for Holker’s two mixed-race children, Maddox, 8, and her 5-year-old daughter Zaia, whom she had with Boss.
The commenter, who is seemingly also a white woman with mixed children, said: “Why do so many WW have black children and then choose WM? I hope you teach your children about their culture and the reason…jmo.”
This is a topic that Holker considered. She and Boss were interviewed on “Entertainment Tonight” in 2020, when the Black Lives Matter movement was at its peak. Two parents expressed it their younger children were too young to grasp, regardless that Holker’s oldest daughter, Weslie Fowler, 16, asked questions and talked to her adolescent friends.
Holker even admitted to being “naive” about the subject at times because he grew up in a “very white community.”
But she said, “It’s time for us to tear down these walls. We have to open our eyes (to the fact) that this is really happening,” Holker said. “Just saying you’re not racist is not enough. We need to join in and help, because we are all in this fight. This is our world. This is the human race and we all need to be together and united.”
Later, the creator, entrepreneur and Boss said they might discuss the subject with their children after they become old. Holker continued: “We have mixed children and we would like to share this recommendation, this role and this education with them. “I think we’re not just educating our kids, but we really just want to educate others.”
Entertainment
Lil Wayne, GloRilla and more will headline the Atlanta college football concert series
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lil Wayne, GloRilla AND Camila Cabello are preparing to make their presence felt during the holiday concert series leading as much as the college football national championship game.
On Thursday, it was announced that the hit makers will headline the AT&T Playoff Live! will begin on January 18 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The two-day series will happen before National College Football Playoff Championship January 20, the same day as the presidential inauguration and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
“The incredible line-up for this year’s AT&T Playoff Live playlist! will deliver an unforgettable experience in Atlanta where sports and music thrive together,” said Mark Wright, vice chairman of media services and sponsorships at AT&T. “It’s a great way to kick off the championship weekend and keep fans excited, regardless of which team they support.”
Hip-hop stars Lil Wayne and GloRilla will take the stage on January 18. Singers Camila Cabello, Myles Smith and Knox are expected to perform on January 19.
Along with a series of live shows, country music artists Kane Brown and Ashley Cooke will perform in the Allstate Championship Tailgate, which will kick off the game day festivities. The tailgate performance will happen in front of Mercedes-Benz Stadium at Georgia International Plaza and The Home Depot Backyard.
Championship game ticket holders will have access to the tailgate concert.
Playoff Playlist Tickets Live! the series will go on sale on November 25 at 10:00 a.m. EST.
Previous performers in the concert series include Lenny Kravitz, Jack Harlow, Latto, Saweetie, Pitbull, Doja Cat, Usher, Meghan Trainor and Sting.
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