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In January, Humanities Texas introduced Soul Circuit: Juneteenth Rodeos in Texas, a new traveling exhibition featuring recently published photographs by writer Sarah Bird that takes viewers along the full morning-to-late-night arc that constituted a Juneteenth rodeo in the late 1970s.

During that era, Black communities throughout Texas organized local rodeos for cowboys and cowgirls outside of the mainstream, white-sponsored circuits. Known as the "Soul Circuit," this thriving network of small-town rodeos played a crucial role in perpetuating and sustaining the more than two-hundred-year lineage of Black cowboys in America. These jubilant occasions, particularly Juneteenth rodeos, celebrated fellowship, community, and victories both in and out of the arena.

With generous support from the Tejemos Foundation, six Texas venues will host the new exhibition in their communities over the coming year. We hope many of you will have the opportunity to view Soul Circuit and learn more about the local institutions hosting it.

Montgomery County Central Library

July 29–September 7, 2025
Conroe, TX

National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum

October 1–November 23, 2025
Fort Worth, TX

Odessa Arts

January 5–February 15, 2026
Odessa, TX

Del Rio Council for the Arts

April 1–25, 2026
Del Rio, TX

Dickey Museum & Multipurpose Center

June 1–July 15, 2026
Taylor, TX

Bastrop County Historical Society

August 10–September 20, 2026
Bastrop, TX

To learn more about reserving this wall-hanging exhibition for your venue, please contact our exhibitions coordinator at exhibitions@humanitiestexas.org.

Champion roper and steer wrestler “Bo” Pink stands next to posters advertising upcoming events in the Spring and Fresno communities. Photo by Sarah Bird, 1978.
Rodeo legend Taylor Hall, known professionally as Bailey’s Prairie Kid, takes one of his last rides before retiring at age fifty. Photo by Sarah Bird, 1978.