As long as there have been cowboys, there have been black cowboys.
One of the most enduring symbols of the American West, the cowboy evokes self-reliance, strength, and determination—qualities found at the Black rodeos held each year in cities across the United States.
One of the most enduring symbols of the American West, the cowboy evokes self-reliance, strength, and determination—qualities found at the Black rodeos held each year in cities across the United States.
Through the lens of Bay Area portrait photographer Gabriela Hasbun, The New Black West documents the exhilarating atmosphere of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (BPIR)—the only touring Black rodeo in the country—and the show-stopping style and skill of the Black cowboys and cowgirls who attend the event in Oakland year after year.
Whether portraying the spectacle of the arena or the quiet moments before the competition, Hasbun’s photographs capture an intimacy and camaraderie unique to the cowboy way of life. Quotes and stories from the performers and attendees accompany the images along with a foreword by Jeff Douvel, the regional manager of the Oakland rodeo.
An artist’s statement by Hasbun delves into the history and mission of the BPIR. What emerges from these pages is a vital perspective on one of the United States’ oldest cultural traditions and a nuanced portrait of a community that continues to shape the American West.
This short film is an immersive portrait of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, the only touring Black rodeo in America. Through moments both intimate and kinetic, the film goes beyond arena spectacle to reveal the people, relationships, and traditions that sustain a deeply rooted Black cowboy culture — traditions too often left out of mainstream narratives. Drawing from years of long-form engagement, it celebrates resilience, community, and the living history of a vibrant American legacy.
Director: Gabriela Hasbun
Editor: Spencer Bakalar
Colorist: Ryan Monroe
Cinematographer: Nick Tucker
Sound & PA: Annie Oakland
Cover of The New Black West by San Francisco–based documentary and commercial photographer Gabriela Hasbun, showing a Black cowgirl in western attire seated on a horse.
Book spread from The New Black West featuring Black cowboy Jordan Miller riding past a mural in Oakland, California, photographed by San Francisco–based commercial and editorial photographer Gabriela Hasbun.
Book spread from The New Black West showing Black cowboy Prince Damons washing his horse and a close-up of his hand on the horse, photographed by San Francisco–based commercial and editorial photographer Gabriela Hasbun.
Book spread from The New Black West showing Black cowgirl Iyauna Austin preparing to ride her horse beside a trailer in Fremont, California, photographed by San Francisco–based commercial and editorial photographer Gabriela Hasbun.
Book spread from The New Black West showing Black cowgirl Brianna Noble standing with her horse Dapper Dan in Oakland, California, photographed by San Francisco–based commercial and editorial photographer Gabriela Hasbun.
Book spread from The New Black West showing Black cowboy Joseph “Dugga” Matthews on horseback, photographed by San Francisco–based commercial and editorial photographer Gabriela Hasbun.