story

My name's Acynthia Villery. I'm with the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo.

I'm a third generation. I grew up in the rodeo family, so it's been in my blood, and I became affiliated with the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo 38 years ago. I am their first African-American female rodeo announcer. We get to narrate, we get to educate...

...we get to entertain because there's a lot of people that don't even know what rodeo is, much less seeing and visualize a Black cowboy and Black cowgirl. Oh my gosh. Look what Nike just dropped off - the Nike SBs. I've been waiting for...

...this. I cannot wait to see. Look at this scarf. It is beautiful. You know me and my scarves, I'm going to put it on. 

Oh my gosh. Look at these shoes. How beautiful. The trim, the shoe strings. Oh my gosh. They look like a rope. And then when you look on the inside, they represent cowboys and cowgirls.

I am so excited. I cannot wait to put these on and wear them and represent. I get to do the first Drop-Off to Kanesha and Kortnee. They are third and fourth generations with the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo.

Hey, Kanesha. Hey. Hey, Kortnee. How y'all doing? Good. Good. Are y'all excited for Memphis? Yes. Oh my God. This is a huge rodeo. But before we get started, I want you guys to follow me because Nike SB has a surprise for you.

Kanesha and Kortnee, have a seat. Remember I talked about that Nike SB special gift? Here it is. Y'all ready? Ohh!

Oh, look at these. I like these. Oh they fit nice. My name is Kanesha Jackson and I'm from Hempstead, Texas. My name is Kortnee Solomon and I'm from Hempstead, Texas. I'm a third generation cowgirl... 

...and she's a fourth generation cowgirl, so it's three generations passed down. Rodeoing is a family sport. People take family vacations. Our family vacation is rodeo. It is basically our way of life, and we get to pass it down from generation to generation. I've been around it for so long...

"I didn't realize that it was non-existent to so many people. You hear people and they say, I didn't know Black cowboys. There's a Black cowboy. And I'm like, why? I've been around all my life. Where y'all been. 
The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo helps uplifts our youth to be able to give them opportunities"

...to be able to travel, to be able to hone into their skills. My second Drop Off, I'm super excited. The youth of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo. I'm talking about Paris, Zoey, Junebug, Jermaine, and that is the future of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo.

Hey you guys. How y'all doing? Remember I told I had a big surprise for you guys. Yes, ma'am. Oh my God. Nike SB has a treat for you, but you have to follow me, so come on.

1, 2, 3. Oh my goodness. These are so pretty! And they are trying on...

...the Rodeo Dunks. When I grew up I knew I wanted to be a cowboy. You get to travel around the country, meet different people, see new things, and you get to rodeo and have fun. Barrel racing is my favorite part of the rodeo. My favorite thing about barrel racing is probably my adrenaline going down...

...the alleyway because I'm so locked in and focused on just having a great run. I love being a cowgirl because you get to meet a bunch of new friends and family. We get to travel all around the world. It's really focused on us and our history and our culture throughout...

...the rodeo world. This rodeo is for us and us specifically. Every time we walk in that arena, we create Black West history. On the behalf of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, and myself as Acynthia Villery. Thank you for watching The Drop-Off.

The Drop-Off: Nike SB Dunk Low Pro 'Tourmaline'