Lavelle Brown the Black Cowboy

One of my close friends, her father, is one of the only Black bull breeders in the PBR circuit. He’s been raising bulls for over 30 years, training them to compete at high-level rodeos, including national competitions featured on ESPN. What struck me wasn’t just his skill but the legacy he’s carrying forward. The history of Black cowboys in America is rich, but you rarely see it represented in mainstream media. When I met Lavelle and his family, I knew this was a story worth telling. If you ask Lavelle, he doesn’t see himself as a pioneer—he sees himself as continuing a legacy. That’s what makes this project so compelling. People don’t realize that the first cowboys were Black. The image we have of cowboys today—the John Wayne, Marlboro Man archetype—has erased that history. But in reality, Black cowboys played a vital role in cattle ranching and rodeo culture. Lavelle isn’t trying to prove anything; he just does what he’s always done. There’s something really powerful about that. I’m drawn to stories that challenge the dominant narrative, stories that show the depth and nuance of communities we don’t often see in mainstream media. With Lavelle’s story, it was about more than just capturing great images—it was about shedding light on an authentic and historical reality. For me, photography is a tool for reclamation. When you see Lavelle and his family in these images, you’re not seeing an anomaly—you’re seeing a continuation of something that’s always been there.