From the sun-baked expanses of California to the rolling plains of Oklahoma and the rural communities of Illinois, Black communities are saddling up, grasping the reins, and riding into arenas nationwide. This thriving, deeply rooted culture has gained widespread public attention and admiration in recent years, showcasing a world where competitors forge unbreakable bonds both inside and outside the rodeo arena. Within these rings, animals kick up thick clouds of dust and barrel across the dirt, while participants display elite horsemanship, resilience, and a profound connection to a long-standing historical tradition.
For nearly a decade, photographer Ivan McClellan has been intimately embedded within these vibrant communities across the United States, documenting the everyday realities, high-stakes competition, and familial warmth that define the circuit. His new book, Eight Seconds: Legacy in Motion, serves as a powerful extension of his earlier body of work, bringing together 91 new images that shine a spotlight on the people, families, and geographic locations integral to Black rodeo culture. Published by Damiani, the updated volume offers a fresh visual exploration of a world that is as much about community preservation as it is about athletic prowess.
The cover of the new edition features Texan teenager Kortnee Solomon, who has captivated audiences and judges alike as one of the circuit’s youngest and most promising competitors. Flanked by horses on the cover, Solomon stands proudly wearing a vibrant, rainbow-colored money shirt and a classic blue hat, her eyes thoughtfully shaded by the brim. Her presence on the cover encapsulates the passing of the torch to a new generation, illustrating how youth are stepping into leadership and competitive roles within the sport with confidence and style.
McClellan’s lens captures the dynamic contrast between high-octane arena action and quiet, personal moments behind the scenes. Additional images zoom directly into the arena, placing viewers alongside cowboys racing across the dirt stage and galloping toward the stands, where enthusiastic crowds cheer beneath the brilliant glare of bright stadium lights. While industrial stadium bulbs can often wash out journalistic photography of sporting events—frequently resulting in an aesthetic that embraces overexposure—McClellan deliberately leans into shadow, contrast, and a profound sense of warmth. His photographs capture intimate portraits and candid shots that exude the familiarity, trust, and mutual respect built through the longstanding relationships he has cultivated with his subjects over the years.
The breadth of McClellan’s documentation spans multiple states and generations, capturing scenes that range from large, energized gatherings to quiet domestic moments. In one striking image from Oklahoma in 2021, a dense crowd of Black spectators watches intently from behind a white fence, their expressions reflecting total investment in the action unfolding before them. Another Oklahoma photograph from 2025, titled Ty & Casico, depicts two Black men riding their horses through a dusty rodeo arena, their postures reflecting ease and mastery born of lifelong experience with livestock.
The personal dimension of the culture is further emphasized in portraits like Casico & Caslynn, also captured in Oklahoma in 2025. This intimate frame shows a Black man dressed in a t-shirt and athletic shorts holding a baby gently in one arm while firmly grasping a horse’s bridle with the other, seamlessly blending the responsibilities of family life with the daily demands of ranch and rodeo stewardship. Similarly, a photograph titled Jada & Sapphire captures two young women walking through a parking lot in Oklahoma wearing denim shorts and classic cowboy boots, highlighting the casual, everyday style that permeates the culture far beyond the arena boundaries.
Geographic diversity is a key element of McClellan’s ongoing project, extending beyond the traditional heartland states to communities in the Midwest and West Coast. A dignified portrait of Larry Brooks, taken in Illinois in 2024, presents an older Black man dressed in a coordinating brown outfit and a crisp white cowboy hat, posing thoughtfully in front of a mature tree. This image speaks to the historical depth and multigenerational continuity of Black agricultural and equestrian traditions in northern and midwestern states. Meanwhile, on the West Coast, a 2024 photograph from California titled Kamal Miller freezes a dramatic moment in time, showing a powerful horse leaping into the air as a Black cowboy kicks up a cloud of dust, illustrating the raw athletic energy that characterizes the sport.
Other compositions emphasize partnership and place, such as a 2025 photograph from Oklahoma featuring Trevonte and Randy on horseback, positioned gracefully in front of a white and red barn-like building adorned with a cross on its facade. These architectural and environmental details ground the portraits in specific rural landscapes, emphasizing that the rodeo is not merely an isolated sporting event, but a central pillar of community life and shared identity. Another classic arena shot, titled Pony Express and captured in Oklahoma in 2021, shows two riders moving in synchronicity across the training grounds, showcasing the rigorous preparation required for competitive events.
For those interested in exploring the full scope of this visual documentation, both the earlier volume and the new edition of Eight Seconds: Legacy in Motion are available through Bookshop. A larger, expansive archive of McClellan’s ongoing photographic work can also be found on his official website and his active Instagram feed, where he continues to share updates from the road as he documents the enduring legacy of Black cowboys and cowgirls across America.
