Black Heritage Day was bustling with activity this past Friday at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Collegiate step teams performed on the Junction Stage, drawing hundreds to watch. Mass line dancing soon followed.

Generations of Black ranchers were caring for their livestock inside the showroom. From traditional wear to Cowboy Carter-inspired outfits, people came dressed to impress. Families filled every inch of the rodeo for the festivities. Photojournalists Lexi Parra and Antranik Tavitian documented the day that celebrates Houston’s roots, and the often undertold history of Black Western culture.

(Top left) A couple hold hands as they watch various groups participate in the step showcase. (Antranik Tavitian / Houston Landing). (Top right) Kaiden Tenenison, 2, at center, watches as various groups participate in the step showcase. (Antranik Tavitian / Houston Landing). (Bottom) Teams compete in step on the Junction Stage on Black Heritage Day at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Friday, March 7, 2025, in Houston. (Lexi Parra / Houston Landing)
Felisha Marsh, at center, watches as various groups participate in the step showcase during Black Heritage Day at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Friday, March 7, 2025, in Houston. (Antranik Tavitian / Houston Landing)
(Left photo) A girl sits on a person’s shoulders to see step performances. (Right photo) A college step team from Texas Southern University talk after their performance at People celebrate at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Friday, March 7, 2025, in Houston. (Lexi Parra / Houston Landing)
(Left photo) Teams compete in step on the Junction Stage on Black Heritage Day. (Lexi Parra / Houston Landing). (Right photo) People watch step performances on the Junction Stage. (Lexi Parra / Houston Landing). (Bottom) Darion Roquemore, with the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity at Prairie View A&M University, practices dancing with his cane as he prepares to perform in the step showcase during Black Heritage Day at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Friday, March 7, 2025, in Houston. (Antranik Tavitian / Houston Landing)

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Lexi Parra is a photo editor for Houston Landing. Before moving to Houston, she worked as an independent photojournalist in Caracas, Venezuela and New York, NY, and her work has been published in The New...

Antranik Tavitian is a photojournalist at the Houston Landing. He previously worked at The Arizona Republic, where he covered the border, Arizona politics, Mezcal production in Oaxaca, Mexico, and Phoenix’s...