Celebrating Chicago’s forgotten Black cowboys

Reset celebrates Chicago’s forgotten Black cowboys — Devyn Branscomb of Roseland, a member and trainer of the Broken Arrow Riding Club, takes part in the club’s annual rodeo June 18, 2023. Photo credit: Justine Tobiasz, WBEZ.

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons

Reset celebrates Chicago’s forgotten Black cowboys

The Reset team spent the day at the rodeo to learn more about Chicago’s history of Black cowboys.

Devyn Branscomb of Roseland, a member and trainer of the Broken Arrow Riding Club, takes part in the club’s annual rodeo June 18, 2023. Photo credit: Justine Tobiasz, WBEZ.

Justine Tobiasz

By Meha Ahmad

Reset hits the road and heads to South Shore for a day of barrel racing and horse tricks. The Broken Arrow Riding Club’s Speed and Action Rodeo and Horse Show is an annual event that puts a spotlight on the city’s little-known cowboy scene.

Reset spends the day at the rodeo and learns more about the often-overlooked contributions of Black cowboys in American history.

GUESTS: Charles Perry, filmmaker of the documentary The Black Cowboy

Murdock, director and president of Broken Arrow Horseback Riding Club

Amber Leslie, member of Broken Arrow

Korey Flowers, rodeo competitor and horse trainer

Devyn Branscomb, rodeo competitor and horse trainer