Cowboys of Color Rodeo, an all-minority rodeo, debuts at Fort Worth’s Will Rogers Coliseum

When Cleo Hearn, a young rodeo competitor, was approached in 1967 with the idea of creating an all-black rodeo, he had doubts. He soon found that he could be a positive role model to kids by founding the Cowboys of Color Rodeo solely for minority cowboys.

According to its Web site, the Cowboys of Color Rodeo is a nonprofit organization that promotes the historical contributions of minorities, especially African, Hispanic and Native Americans, to the development of the Old West.

“One-third of the West was made up of black and Hispanic cowboys,” said Jim Austin, promoter for the Cowboys of Color Rodeo.

Some of the rodeo profits go to the National Cowboys of Color Museum and Hall of Fame, which was founded about two years ago to offer a complete historical perspective of the American West, said Gloria Austin, the executive director of the Museum.

“It teaches them appreciation of one’s own culture and those of others. After all, fear is built out of ignorance,” Gloria Austin said.

The Cowboys of Color Rodeo Tour will be coming to Fort Worth at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday in the Will Rogers Coliseum. Reserved seats are $12 and box seats are $18. Rodeo events include competitions in bull riding, calf roping and barrel racing. For more information, call (817) 922-9999.

— Monique Bhimani