The sons of Hall of Famer Cleo Hearn,

along with rodeo announcer Kevin

Woodson are today’s real life cowboys

dad’s legacy alive.

Walking through the exhibit, Harlan Hearn calls it impressive as he and his brothers view the untold stories of Black cowboys such as Bill Pickett, Myrtis Dightman and Nat Love.

Harlan Hearn hopes the exhibit will inspire young people to realize there are more options than football, soccer, and track and field.

“There are some other things that they can do. They don’t have to compete. If they have a love of animals, they can be a veterinarian or trainer. There are so many different opportunities,” he said.

They can be like Woodson, who with decades of experi- ence in the rodeo, also fought bulls and is a trainer.

“Today the sky is the limit because of all the social media available. We also have several Black world champions; such as Shad Mayfield, who became the third Black world champion in rodeo. Fred Whitfield is also a Black rodeo cowboy with eight world championships in tiedown roping,” said Woodson.

Want to go?

WHAT: Black Cowboys: An American Story exhibit

WHEN: Through June 15, 2023

WHERE: African American Museum, 3536 Grand Ave., Fair Park

COST: Free