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Crowning of First Nonblack Miss Hampton University Creates Stir

October 23, 2009 RSS Feed Print

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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:: historically black colleges and universities,; colleges

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Why would a "BLACK COLLEGE" full of black women and men of all shades pick a non black person to represent your school? WHY? Is it because black people have finally bought into the things YOU see on TV. How is it black people have forgot the struggle it took for your black behinds to get to where you are today? Are you a shame of your black big nose, broad hip, and kinky hair? I see beautiful black women putting weave in there hair to make themselves look more.. whats the word CRAZY as hell to keep from looking all black. Only in your mind. Its as if black people are on a self hate mission. I really can't believe that an black college would vote for any other race other than your own. Its like out of the whole school there wasn't one not one black women worthy. Why is it so important that other races accept you? Does that make you feel better about yourself? Why? Why is that? Black people are there own worst enemy. If you feel you "AIN"T' nothing and it take another race to make you feel you have arrived GUESS WHAT !!!! You haven't. I also noticed we have a new form of SLAVERY its called marry an woman other than a black one, but you forgot a BLACK WOMAN carried your BLACK BEHIND and worked two or three jobs so you didn't have to work as hard as she did and you marry, date, take care of and love a race that looks nothing like that BLACK WOMAN that loved you and did with out for what? As a mother it is hurtful to see our BLACK MEN pick something that does not represent us. God know I look at OJ Simmons, Kobe, Tiger Woods, Charles Barkley and other like them have made black mothers like myself and probably there own mothers sad they were ever born she just decided to keep silent, smile on the outside and cry and die on the inside because the son I gave birth didn't love me enough to pick someone who look like me.

BlackMother of MS 12:10PM February 20, 2010

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.

Frank Harrison of GA 9:58PM October 26, 2009

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.

Hannah Katz of CA 6:04PM October 26, 2009

Crowning of First Nonblack Miss Hampton University Creates Stir

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