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Bill Pickett
Bill Pickett (1870–1932) was a pioneering Black cowboy, rodeo performer, and Wild West showman whose innovations left an indelible mark on American ranching culture. Born in Texas to formerly enslaved parents, Pickett developed extraordinary skills in horsemanship and cattle handling. He became famous for inventing “bulldogging,” a daring rodeo technique in which he would leap from his horse, grab a steer by the horns, and subdue it by biting its upper lip—a method inspired by watching ranch dogs control cattle.
Pickett toured the world with the 101 Ranch Wild West Show, performing before audiences that included British royalty. Despite his fame, racial barriers often limited his recognition; he was sometimes billed as Mexican or Native American to bypass segregation laws. In 1971, long after his death, Pickett was posthumously inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. His legacy endures as a symbol of Black excellence and innovation in the history of the West.
Learn more about about the legacy of Black Cowboys in this review in Outside Magazine on the film High Horse, from executive producer Jordan Peele. https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/books-media/high-horse-black-cowboy/
The Joy Trip Project celebrates American history with the stories remarkable features of our past that are too often forgotten. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of men and women who helped to shape the progress of our nation.
#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute
Become a paid subscriber to the Unhidden Minute Podcast for one year and receive a copy The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors 10th Anniversary Edition by James Edward Mills.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesedwardmills.substack.com/subscribe
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By James Edward MillsBill Pickett (1870–1932) was a pioneering Black cowboy, rodeo performer, and Wild West showman whose innovations left an indelible mark on American ranching culture. Born in Texas to formerly enslaved parents, Pickett developed extraordinary skills in horsemanship and cattle handling. He became famous for inventing “bulldogging,” a daring rodeo technique in which he would leap from his horse, grab a steer by the horns, and subdue it by biting its upper lip—a method inspired by watching ranch dogs control cattle.
Pickett toured the world with the 101 Ranch Wild West Show, performing before audiences that included British royalty. Despite his fame, racial barriers often limited his recognition; he was sometimes billed as Mexican or Native American to bypass segregation laws. In 1971, long after his death, Pickett was posthumously inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. His legacy endures as a symbol of Black excellence and innovation in the history of the West.
Learn more about about the legacy of Black Cowboys in this review in Outside Magazine on the film High Horse, from executive producer Jordan Peele. https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/books-media/high-horse-black-cowboy/
The Joy Trip Project celebrates American history with the stories remarkable features of our past that are too often forgotten. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of men and women who helped to shape the progress of our nation.
#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute
Become a paid subscriber to the Unhidden Minute Podcast for one year and receive a copy The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors 10th Anniversary Edition by James Edward Mills.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesedwardmills.substack.com/subscribe