Pulitzer Center Update June 24, 2025
Grantee Ashonti Ford Saddles Up To Tell the True Story About Black Cowboys at Glendale Community College
Country:
The story of Black cowboys in America.
On March 20, Glendale Community College, in partnership with the Pulitzer Center, hosted a live webinar featuring award-winning journalist, author, and TV news reporter Ashonti Ford.
Ford, a Pulitzer Center grantee, discussed her documentary, which showcases the history of Black cowboys. Her project debunks whitewashed narratives of cowboy history. Although rewriting history is practiced to fit current narratives or ideologies, doing so can have negative impacts, and undermine truth. Ford’s work strives to make sure that the history of Black cowboys is not lost.
Her documentary, The Untold Story of Black Cowboys in America, features interviews with prominent individuals attuned with cowboy culture and examines the history of Black cowboys, and how Hollywood tried to change the narrative of who the cowboys were. While Ford typically reports on politics and news from the White House, she aimed to diversify her work through this project.
Ford spoke with retired third generation foreman Al Everett. Everett shared his insights on the early 20th century, emphasizing that Black cowboys were renowned for their exceptional skill in their craft, a testament to their significant yet often overlooked contributions to American history. Ford highlighted the newsworthy stories of Black cowboys, with Everett sharing the moving history of his own family, revealing that his grandparents were slaves, and although his father was born free, he remained illiterate, reflecting the reality of systemic barriers faced by their community.
Next, Ford showcased “Black Rodeos” in her presentation, which celebrates the thrilling traditions of Black cowboys. Black rodeos have become cultural events that honor the contributions made by Black cowboys and cowgirls to American history and culture. Everett showed Ford that rodeo’s featuring Black and brown cowboys were held as a way to filter money back into their community and churches.
Ford also shared images and information about the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo. Over 40 years ago, the Bill Pickett Rodeo was founded by Lu Vason. The rodeo was a way of highlighting the rich history of Black cowboys in America. The rodeo features Black cowboys and cowgirls. Pickett was known to be one of the most renowned African American cowboys back in the 1800s. Pickett created a rodeo event called “Bull Dogging,” which is featured in every rodeo today.
Ford shared with the GCC audience that persistence and confidence allowed her to focus her efforts on underrepresented Black stories. Numerous newsrooms seemed to struggle with the idea of approving essential Black stories, as many producers failed to recognize their significance.
GCC is already planning their fall Pulitzer Center event, and anticipates publicizing it to the campus in September, said the organizers.
