Crowning of First Nonblack Miss Hampton University Creates Stir
Two weeks ago, Hampton University crowned its first nonblack Miss Hampton University. Saying that the news caused a stir on campus probably doesn't capture the full mood at the historically black university.
In fact, the new Miss Hampton, 22-year-old Nikole Churchill, wrote to President Obama and asked the first black president to speak to her classmates about racial tolerance, the Daily Press in Newport News, Va., reports. Churchill, who is from Hawaii, told the newspaper that her father is from Guam and her mother is Italian. The senior was selected by a panel of judges over nine other Hampton University students for the coveted crown, and she'll move on to the Miss Virginia pageant.
"I am hoping that perhaps you would be able to make an appearance to my campus, Hampton University, so that my fellow Hamptonians can stop focusing so much on the color of my skin and doubting my abilities to represent," Churchill writes in her letter to Obama, "but rather be proud of the changes our nation is making toward accepting diversity."
Pageant Director Sheila Maye told the Daily Press that she was surprised at the outpouring of both support and protest in the Hampton community. "We have all kinds of people on our campus; we are not in a cocoon," she says. "As far as I'm concerned, we need to get her ready to serve HU and to move on and represent us at Miss Virginia."
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Tags: colleges | historically black colleges and universities
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Reader Comments
Tolerance is a two way street
I am always amazed, if not quite amused, by those who shout "intolerance" and yet practice themselves exactly what they find so despicable in others. "Racial tolerance" is very much a two way street...assuming that we even have some relatively clear notion about what we are talking when we use the word "tolerance." For my part, "tolerance" does NOT mean accepting "your" view" as "my own." Rather it has much more to do with coming first to understand your view before I then judge it to be right or wrong. After understanding your view, I might then be very vehement in rejecting it. Having millions of Jews, non Aryans, gays, blacks, mentally handicapped, and the like put to death during the Second World War is not something to be taken lightly even though we may come "to see" some causes leading to this despicable behavior. If we are going to float the flag of tolerance, let us first come clear what we mean by "tolerance." Then, do let us attempt to be consistent in its application -- to all sides of the conversation.
Time to get real
So some are upset because a non-black won the crown. It sounds like she is of mixed race but a photo would have been nice. I have seen black groups get angry because a light skinned black woman wins, too. How about we just choose the best candidate, regardless of race, and forget about being outraged. I realize some people live to be outraged, but it is time to get real.
To RJ of NC
You said, this article secures your thoughts that blacks are also prejudice. Whoever said that blacks can't be prejudice? Anyone can be prejudice. Racism can be perpetuated by anyone. I seriously doubt that blacks are some of the most prejudice people you know seeing that you live in North Carolina (and I don't care what you say, the southern region of the U.S. still has its issues with racist thinking, I should know, I currently live in Alabama); and yes blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asians, etc. and even whites who feel that they are experiencing reverse disrimination will all "cry foul" if they feel that they're being mistreated. I should hope anyone would stand up for their rights as a human being. You sound like you're annoyed by black peoeples' pursuit of equal rights with your statement, "equal rights would push you back to second place". I think you sound pretty prejudice yourself. Remember, racism is the reason historically black colleges and universities were founded in the first place. Hopefully the small minority who are upset, and I'm sure it's a small amout of students, will get over the fact that she is not black and accept the winner and support her as Miss Hampton University.
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