Not only does Beyoncé Knowles-Carter highlight Black cowboy and equestrian culture in her music, but the superstar continues to support it through her foundation. Recently, the “Cowboy Carter” creator partnered with the annual Bill Pickett Rodeo and provided a $500,000 grant through her BeyGOOD Foundation and her Black Equestrian Program, which supports programs that promote Black cowboys, cowgirls and ranchers.
Started in 1984, the Bill Pickett Rodeo, considered the original African-American traveling rodeo association, “honors Black cowboys and cowgirls and their contributions to the creation of the West,” according to its website. Now in its 40th year, the Invitational Rodeo is considered the longest-running Black rodeo in the United States and a pioneering event within Black equestrian culture.
The “BeyGOOD” Foundation travels with the rodeo, and some of those stops include Atlanta and Los Angeles, where the charity has provided thousands of dollars in grants and programming. Of course, the megastar released her acclaimed album on March 29 and since then it has made history and broken numerous records. Additionally, it has put a lot of focus on black country artists and revived the conversation about black artists and country music and its roots. Before sharing the album with the rest of the world, Beyoncé spoke openly about the project being five years in the making and referenced her 2016 performance at the CMA Awards.
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In a post on Instagram, he wrote, “This album has been in the works for over five years. It was born out of an experience I had years ago where I didn’t feel welcome… and it was very clear I wasn’t welcome. But, because of that experience, I dove deep into the history of country music and studied our rich musical archive.
It’s amazing to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of those who have dedicated such a large part of their lives to educating us about our musical history,” he wrote. “The criticism I faced when I entered this genre forced me to overcome the limitations that were imposed upon me.
The second act is the result of me investing my time in testing myself and mixing and combining genres to create this work.” And it’s clear that the impact of “Cowboy Carter” goes far beyond the music.
