Bill Pickett, a legendary African American cowboy, was posthumously inducted into the National Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame on December 9, 1971. Born in 1870, Pickett was a skilled rodeo performer and is credited with inventing the rodeo technique known as “bulldogging” (now called steer wrestling). As a Black cowboy in the early 20th century, he broke racial barriers in a field that rarely recognized African American talent.
Pickett performed in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show and became one of the most famous cowboys of his time, paving the way for future generations of Black rodeo stars.
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