DW-LA: Stomach turning pro rodeo fluff piece in LA Times 8/20/24

Angelenos:

It’s pretty darn depressing to see, as the headline on the lead Entertainment story, page E1, in the Tuesday August 20 Los Angeles Times, “Chasing a Dream in Rodeo Ring.” The subheading reads, “Grab a seat at the Bill Pickett Invitational as a photographer documents Black Cowboy Culture.”

The story, by Adam Davis, opens with:

” As someone who’s spent the better part of a decade living and photographing in Los Angeles, few things felt more exciting than capturing my first rodeo here and the Black riders who personified athleticism, passion and courage. As part of my journey over the past several years to find Black faces and places to document in ways only my ancestors could have dreamt of — under the project name Black Magic — I went in search for Black horseback riders and rodeo participants of all ages chasing their desire to ride, jump, lasso and embody the spirit of the old West while making it new again.

“…. Little did I know upon entering the Industry Hills Expo Center in West Covina recently to witness the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo for the first time last year, I had stumbled onto an event where Black communities across the country congregate yearly for a day of fun, food, riding and fellowship.”

In case there were any doubts as to this being a complete fluff piece, check out the following sentence and notice if there is a word in it that doesn’t quite seem to belong:

“Without a doubt, you’ll feel your heart racing watching the steer wrestlers hurl themselves from atop their horses to wrangle bovine companions in time to secure their victory.”

Companions?

And this is how the piece ends:

“The Bill Pickett Rodeo is a celebration of the culture that extends far beyond the bright lights and line dances. For 40 years, generations of people have come from far corners of America to honor the contributions made by Black people in Western culture. The dedicated staff that puts on the traveling rodeo tour reminds us as each rodeo concludes why it truly is ‘The Greatest Show on Dirt.’”

Good goddess.

Please send a letter.

And please remember that if we speak for animals without totally slagging the paper, we have a far better chance of being published.

As always, I send thanks to Elaine-Livesay Fassel for keeping a close eye on the LA Times for us.

Yours and all animals’,
Karen Dawn of DawnWatch