The Story of Ja’Dayia Kursh Who’s Managed to Overcome Social Prejudice and Become the First Black Rodeo Queen
Ja’Dayia Kursh is the first black rodeo queen in Arkansas. The woman didn’t grow up on a farm, and she’s the only one in her family who knows how to ride. Thanks to her perseverance and family support, Kursh has managed to achieve success in this profession. But on her way to the top, she’s had to deal with racism and prejudice.
At CHEERY, we would like to tell you the story of a cowgirl who didn’t surrender to difficulties and proved that you should never give up on your dreams.
Ja’Dayia was introduced to horse riding when she was a little girl. “My love for horses started when I was about 6 years old. I sat in the saddle and was handed the reins to my freedom.” At 13, she participated in pony express riding for the Arkansas Seven, and at 16, she joined the Old Fort Days Dandies. “I always say I have this hoof print on my heart,” she said jokingly.
Rodeo is an equestrian sport where participants compete in different disciplines. The riders are expected to memorize a 3 to 4-minute speech, know horsemanship patterns, and have a diverse wardrobe among other things. “So much work goes into preparing for a rodeo. If you’re not preparing 2 to 3 months to the day of the pageant, you probably won’t be prepared,” Kursh explains.
On her seventeenth birthday, Kursh was crowned Miss Rodeo Coal Hill, which made her the first black woman to gain the title. “After I won, I went online and I tried to find other black rodeo queens, I was young and needed someone to follow. But when I googled ‘black rodeo queens’, I didn’t find any back then. I learned real quick I had to become that woman that I was looking for.”
However, not everyone on the team was happy with Ja’Dayia’s success. The parents of other rodeo participants bullied her because of her skin color, called her names, and posted insults online. At one point, she even wanted to abandon the rodeo sport, but eventually, she realized, “I’m a cowgirl and I’m going to be a cowgirl till the end whether they like it or not I’m here.”
Kursh is 23 now. Those who bullied her when she was 16 continue to do that; however, this didn’t break her. Her self-confidence, perseverance, and love of rodeo have helped her achieve success and win a title.
Louise Horton, Ja’Dayia’s mother, supports her daughter and is very proud of her. “She’s a goal-getter, she doesn’t give up on anything, she falls down and she gets back to her feet. She had to deal with condemnation at a very early age. But she’s very strong, and I always tell her that she should do what she likes regardless of all people who try to stop her.”
Ja’Dayia stands up against racism and wants other people not to dwell on skin color. “What I do in this industry is so much bigger than me. It’s not about me, it’s about the next young kids that can come.” She doesn’t want to keep silent and wants things to change. “I speak up about diversity, I speak about change in a community that I have loved for so long. So trust me I didn’t start this to be liked. It may be the exact reason some don’t like me.”
Outside of the rodeo world, Kursh models for western-inspired clothing brands. According to her, style is very important for her work. “Rodeo queen style is nothing short of elegantly beautiful. I love the confidence I have when I’m wearing a leather dress or even just a fancy top with some jeans and a hat.”
Ja’Dayia is also involved in social activities. She tries to teach kids the importance of farming and how agriculture impacts their everyday lives. “It’s important that kids know agriculture because that’s our future. Farming is our whole community.”
Ja’Dayia has big plans for the future — she continues to participate in rodeo and wants to win the title of Miss Rodeo America. She recently graduated from law school and plans to become an attorney. But she’s always there to help others. “I also recently purchased BlackCowgirls Inc. I want to start an organization for young women of all colors that might want to step into this world but are scared because of the things people say or how they are treated.”
Ja’Dayia has done something no one has ever done before — she became the first Black Rodeo Queen. She’s proved that you should never give up on your dreams even if everyone else is against you. “I would tell the little girls that look up to me to never allow someone to mute them, be who you are loudly, make them hear you, make them listen even if they don’t want to.”
We are very inspired by Ja’Dayia’s story. What is your dream? Tell us about it in the comments below.