Houston Filmmaker’s New Short Film Brings Attention to the Black Women in Rodeo and Cowboy Culture
With the release of his new short, “Rides & Hides: Honoring Black Excellence,” Houston filmmaker Isaac Yowman aims to pay his respects to and educate the masses about the “Black women who defied convention and reshaped the landscape of rodeo culture,” as expressed in the film’s opening text.
At just over four minutes, Yowman’s film is part drama, part documentary with a focus on Myrtis Dightman Sr., who made history as the first Black bull rider to compete in the National Championship Rodeo, and his granddaughter Adia Dightman who upholds his legacy as an award-winning rodeo rider herself. The film includes a voice-over narration from Adia, where she talks about the significance of the Prairie View Trail Ride, which was started by her grandfather and his copartners “so that Black cowboys could be reflected in the Texas rodeo scene.” The PV Trail Riders Association has been active in the annual Houston trail ride for 70 years, and broke barriers in the sixties when their members included and embraced women riders at a time when this was largely unheard of.
“Rides & Hides” marked its release just over a week ago, and its timing couldn’t be more crucial. Just as the rodeo season comes to a close, and in the midst of Women’s History Month, Yowman’s film pays tribute to the women involved in the Texas rodeo scene, highlighting their often overlooked legacy and contributions to the preservation of cowboy culture and rodeo traditions.
The film also comes at the pinnacle of a significant pop culture moment; Beyoncé recently made history as the first Black woman to have a number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart, and her highly anticipated country album “Cowboy Carter” is set to release in just a few days. Similarly to “Rides & Hides,” Beyoncé’s forthcoming album commemorates Texas rodeo culture, and boldly spotlights the influence that Black women have had in this cultural space.
In a recent interview with Essence, Yowman referenced the buzz around Beyoncé’s contribution to the country music genre, “as a Texan, you grow up in this. You better believe that Beyoncé got her drip from the folks who embraced the cow girl culture before her like the women from the Prairie View Trail Rides,” he said, emphasizing that “Black women showing up in country, rodeo culture is so important for people to see.”
Checkout “Rides & Hides,” available to watch on Youtube, and get ready for Beyoncé’s upcoming album celebrating and paying homage to the cowboy-rodeo culture in Texas, releasing on March 29th.
