By Dianne Anderson

It’s not Riverside Black History Parade and Expo’s first rodeo, so to speak, but this year just might feel like it.

Cowboys are all the rage lately, the boots, the chaps, hats, blockbuster soul wranglers – all the things Black cowboys have been doing for hundreds of years. They’re in the spotlight again with the best of Wild West coming local next week.

Dell Roberts, who co-founded the Black History Parade 45 years ago, said that one fun fact behind the term cowboy is that initially, it was intended as an insult to Black men, but later it was so cool and popularized, that white men wanted to use it too.

“Black cowboys were originally a derogatory term put on them by white wranglers because they were out with the cows, but our cowboys became so proficient in steer riding and breaking horses so they decided they would be cowboys.”

This year’s special guest is Charles Sampson, proficient world-famous champion from Watts, has racked up multiple awards, and broke down historic barriers in 1982 as the first African American to take home the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association World Championship in bull riding.

Entertainment, good food and good health are also among the activities in store. He said nurses will be out in force, helping reinforce the theme of “Serving Our Community.”

“We have different vendors in our Expo,” he said. “This year we have the Black Nurses Association that has descended upon us and we’ll have nurses all over the place,” said Roberts, a long-time community leader and education advocate.

On Saturday, February 8, the 45th Annual Riverside Black History Parade, Expo, and Car Show rolls through with floats, bands, and dance teams, starting at 10:00 a.m. at Riverside City College, winding down Market Street to finish up in front of the historic Riverside County Courthouse.

After the parade, over 40 vendors at the Expo will serve up good eats, clothes, books, local top-tier talent and performers, and community information booths to Black history and culture artifacts. For the kids, all eyes will be on Tommy the Clown.

Roberts said “It Takes A Village” is the decades-long underlying theme, and the main focus at their Adrian Dell & Carmen Roberts Foundation, and the multitude of volunteers, who put on the parade and expo in action, along with several other events year-round.

“The part of the village that helps us put on the Empowering Young Women’s conference held on March 8 and our 1,000 backpack giveaways, at the Foundation everything we do is village-oriented,” he said.

Entries for this year’s Parade are starting to take shape with a mix of familiar faces. The long list of confirmed participants includes recently retired Fire Chief Michael Moore as Grand Marshal. Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, and Riverside city council members, along with Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, and Riverside County Supervisor Jose Medina will take front and center of the procession.

The 100 Black Men IE, the nonprofit equestrian Urban Saddles, and Divine 9 Sororities and Fraternities will be representing, as will America’s Got Talent winners, the all-female drumline group Divas and Drummers of Compton.

Russel Ward, parade organizer, has volunteered to pull off the event almost every year since high school, but he said this year will feel a little different. The equestrians and guests are exciting, and he also sees how the people’s passion is the main driver of the excitement.

Each year, the community also comes out to support Black businesses for arts and crafts, or they get a booth to promote their own products. They can also access tons of resources, and access help in just about all areas of health and local services.

But as important, he said they are also sure to bump into someone they know. He said a lot of people come out for the food or just fellowship.

It’s a place to catch up, see new things, and remember the good old days.

“You know every year at the parade the majority of folks you missed are going to be there. I see people I went to high school with way way back,” he said. “They’re there every year and I’m sure years before and years behind me are doing the same. That’s just one thread, one reason to come out by itself.”

For more information on the Adrian Dell & Carmen Roberts Foundation, see https://adcrfoundation.org/

To learn more about Charlie Sampson, see

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