Wild West Show roars to town
. Rose E low
The Blac Wild West
Week Inc. is sponsoring a
rodeo and cowboy show in
honor of the 5,000 Black cow­
boy who rode the range in the
heyday .of the cowboy, at the
Michigan State Fair grounds
on June 27.
Since one out of every
eight cowboys were Black,
but only one man in ten in the
population as a whole, they
were more heavily repre­
ented in the saddle than their
proportion in the population.
Yet this story has been so
generall y neglected lhat nost
American are surprised lO
learn that there wa such a
thing as a Black cowboy.
Some of the most famous
were:
ESTAVANICO, the Black
Moor - Discovered Texas in
1539
CHARLES SAMPSON -
First Black bull riding cham­
pion 1982.
WILLIAM "BILL"
PICKETT invented
bulldogging
MARY FIELDS
Stagecoach driver
ISOM DART - Cattle
rustler
CHEROKEE BILL - Out­
lw
AT LOVE "DEAD­
WOOD DICK" - Champion
roping and hooting cowboy
BUFFALO SOLDIERS -
9th and 10th Calvaries
C�ARLES A.SIRINGO -
cowboy
HENRY BECKWORTH -
cowboy
EMA UEL ORGA
cowboy .
"EIGHTY" JOH WAL­
LACE - cowboy
ALBERT WILLIAMS -
cowboy
. JESSIE STAHL - Bronco
rider
CATHY WILLIAMS -
served as William Cathy in
the Buffalo Soldiers
A fair number of all Black
towns were formed, with Ok­
lahoma having· the most
(twenty).
Fur trading, mining and
agriculture were the major in­
dustries Blacks were involved
in during the pioneer days.
The show includes a buck­
i ng bronco contest, steer
roping, straight shooting con­
test and much more. For more
information contact the State
Fair Grounds at 368-1000 or
963-1885.
The most talented cowboys
from all over America will be
traveling to Michigan lO par­
iicipate in lhis event.
Qual i fied local persons are
urged to enter and must have
put in at least 52 hours of
community service and must
pay $10 for each event
entered.
CODtinU d [rom P e lU
CAMP DIRECTORY
Write your
opinions:
NAnONAL BLACK ARTS
FESnvAL
U EU I
-MOTONN - 2&48 W. Gtand BIYd,
DetroIt, 187 .()081. .
-GRAYSTONE JAZ2 - 3000 E.
Grand Blvd., 871-0234.
- YOUTH HERITAGE HOUSE - 110
E. Ferry. Detroit, 871-1887.
-� AMERICAN HISTORY -
301 F1ederick Douglas, Detroit, 133-
8100.
-NATIONAL � ERICAN
SPORTS HALl OF FAME Opens
day-Friday, 8-5 on the 4 A t,
. yne County Bldg, eoo Randolph,
Detroit.
-SHERRY WASH. GTON GAL­
LERY - lIend r Cent ,Detroit, 555-
BRUSH.
Send announcements and infor-
mation to:
SHEBA L CKINNEY
P.O. Box 03560
12541 Second S .
hland Park, 148203
Or call (313) 889-0033.
Black Rodeo
Sho
Clowns at
AAH
With tbe tbeme of
. "Heroes," June 27 marks the
International 'Freedom
Festival's 11th annual
Children's Day in the Univer-
sity Cultural Center. .
The Museum of African
American History will par­
ucipate, offering a full day of
. fun for kids of all ages from
9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Scheduled activi ties will fea­
ture the Black Rodeo Sbow
Clown , performances b� Rex
Purefoy the Hollywood Cow­
boy, and a surprise celebrity
guest! The Museum will also
feature the "Art of Motion
Dance Theatre" and face­
painting all day.
A 9:30 a.m. parade, start-
, ing at the Scarab Club at John
Rand Fransworth will begin
the day, which features ap­
pearances by Mis USA
Carole Gist, Detroit Piston
Dennis Rodman, tbe
Tpruzinka Puppet Ensemble
of Czecho lovakia, media per­
sonali ties John Mason, Emery
King and Cbuck Gaidica.
Rex Purefoy the Hol­
lywood Cowboy became in­
terested in .cowboy an
adolescent during the 1950's, i
when he .spent afternoon
watching Western film. He
was inspired by numerous
cinema cowboys including
Black cowboy Bob Blake.
In 1970, Purefoy began his
professional career as a cow­
boy in North Carolina. He
found succe s a year later in
Hollywood where be per­
formed on several television
shows.
In this one-man cowboy
show, Purefoy performs rope
tricks and a whip act. He will
perform on the parking lot
cross from tbe Museum at 11
p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3 p.m.
AG E . TIYENT\t .ONE
performances in m em, jazz,
and African dance/drumming.
The� will be featured at the
Meum at 12:45 p.m. and
2:1 p.m.
All Children's Day ac­
tivi ies at the Museum of
African American History are
free and open to the public.
For more information call
833-9800.
IDARI1Y MINT HONORS ...
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custom
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for <isplay
or in your home.
For only $19095 t
Mandela commemorat 0
your han hi
t 0 keel].satce and a c I tor'
item. To <nIer,.� the handy
order form below and enc a
check or money order. (Vi and
M terCard gladly cepted ) If
you not comp ely . tied
with the Mandel commemor .
guarant a full refw1d if retwned
to u within days.
To ('* � or t�)
Cass Co · dor Food Co-op
14th Ann al Benefit Dinner
I'
Sunday, [u e 24f 1990 7:00 p.m.
First Uni rian Universalis Church
I _o
Vegi Ita Buffet Catered by cere
55. Advan� $6.00 At d
SJ. Children (12 & und r)
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