Honoring Black Western Heritage

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Rodeo at the National Western Stock Show is the only one of its kind. Held on MLK, Jr. Day every January, the performance begins with the presentation of the tri-color Pan-African (also known as the Afro-American) flag, shown here, along with the American and Colorado flags. The rodeo features African American and Native American cowboys and cowgirls, and celebrates the history and heritage of America’s Black cowboys. The Stock Show and Rodeo draws nearly 700,000 people every year to the National Western Complex north of Park Hill for 16 days.

Photo by Reid Neureiter