Bill Pickett: Courageous African-American Cowboy

Bill Pickett urged his horse forward chasing after the speedy steer. Like an acrobat, Pickett jumped onto the steer’s back, grabbing it by the horns. In the same motion, he twisted the steer’s neck up and bit its upper lip with his teeth. Instantly, he had the steer on the ground as the crowd roared in delight. Bill Pickett invented this exciting event, known as bulldogging. Despite the racism he faced as an African-American cowboy, Pickett entertained rodeo crowds around the world. Authors William R. Sanford and Carl R. Green explore the life of this courageous rodeo superstar.