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.