Calvin White, an 85-year-old cowboy from Gary, Indiana, placed third in the pole-bending competition at the Brown Family Ranch’s annual rodeo. White, along with many other Black cowboys and cowgirls in the region, has been riding horses all his life and sees rodeoing as a way of life and a peaceful lifestyle. Horseback riding is common in the Midwest, with riders in northwest Indiana finding a reprieve from city life on ranches in the region.
Many of the Black cowboys in the Chicago region come from a long line of horse riders, passing down the tradition through generations. Riders like Jack Douglas, who has been riding horses since he was 7, have dedicated their lives to horsemanship and instilling this aspect of Black American culture in their families and communities. The cowboy tradition teaches values such as patience, respect, and maturity, and is seen as a way to pass on family values and traditions.
The Brown Family Ranch’s rodeo, which started as a small gathering with friends, has grown into a community-wide event in Gary. The rodeo provides opportunities for young people to learn about animals and horseback riding, with competitions like pole-bending and barrel racing. The love for horsemanship is seen as a duty to be passed down to future generations, with the hope of keeping the legacy of Black cowboys alive in the Chicago region.
