In photos: Black cowboys and cowgirls
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Photo: Courtesy of Ivan McClellan
Photographer Ivan McClellan spent seven years on a project documenting the lives of Black cowboys and cowgirls. The result is “Eight Seconds,” which sheds light on Black cowboy culture, elevating their stories in popular media.
Why it matters: McClellan says he does this work not only to disrupt perceptions of Black cowboy culture but to celebrate this newly found part of his identity — an identity with roots spanning generations and documented in archival photographs.
- On Saturday, the Portland Expo Center is hosting the Eight Seconds Juneteenth Rodeo, an event McClellan created to highlight the traditions and athleticism of the sport in an effort to foster the next generation of Black cowboys and cowgirls.
Here is a selection of archival images and photos from McClellan's "Eight Seconds."
Go deeper: Rodeo celebrates the legacy of Black cowboys
Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to state that the Eight Seconds Juneteenth Rodeo takes place Saturday (not Thursday).