Facebook and Twitter has been at blast at midst the various views of the crowning of the first non-black Miss Hampton University, this past Friday. Here are some comments drawn from students and alumni at Hampton and other schools. Post your comments below and tell us what you think? Is it time to move this controversy along and have open and honest dialogue that betters us all? Let us know!
Related story: http://www.emqtv.com/emq/news/117/ARTICLE/1396/2009-10-13.html
Hampton Male Alum: It bewilders me when I read these ignorant and close-minded comments of my fellow Hamptonians. To be factually correct, the young woman is Hawaiian. Secondly, many of you were in haywire when the racist and idiomatic comments were spouted at the president? You are regurgitating this same simple mentality. Aren't Hamptonians progressive thinkers garnering the opportunity for equal opportunity and Education for life?
Hampton Female Alum:I think it's extremely hypocritical of the current students who were upset about this...black people fight for affirmative action, but want to discriminate. If the girl won, she won. Get over it and run for Miss Hampton next year, sh*t. smh
Hampton Female Student: I don't think it’s all about her being of a different race...well not for me anyways. It’s deeper than that. It’s about how HU will do just about anything to get press. Assimilation is taught and focused from the time we get there. A few people I spoke to said she wasn't even that "tight" (as we say @ HU lol) which leads me to believe she was picked because she would probably have a better chance at the Miss VA pageant. And how great would it be to have a Hamptonian crowned Miss VA?!
Hampton Female Alum: Exactly Lil Bro...we huffed and puffed about the comments made towards our African American President but yet and still we talk bad about this young lady. Never have we had a black man run the US and never have we had a Hawaiian women win Ms. HU...deal with it...it’s a change and they are both apparently qualified to do the job. I can’t believe some of the IGNORANT statements I’ve heard from some people...smh
Non-Hampton Student or Alum: I can understand why this may have created mixed emotions in some folks as racial dynamics are a complex issue. In addition, Hampton is a historically black university and I know the black community at large takes great pride in their schools as they represent major milestones in our country's progress to equal rights, etc.
At the same time... Read More, I dream of a day in this country when we truly can get past the issue of race and judge a person not by "the color of their skin, but the content of their character" as Dr. King said. I have had the opportunity and great pleasure of working in predominately black high schools and I can say that I always viewed the students as fellow human beings--nothing more and nothing less. I really don't see color as an issue.
One of the students I worked with once said to me, "We all look the same on the inside," and I believe that's true. A very dear friend of mine was given the gift of life through a liver transplant from a young black man who was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident. We all need to see that which unites us and try not to focus on that which divides. In closing, I ask, "What is the color of our spirit?"
Anonymous Female: ~not mad b/c she isnt black, but b/c she is from the sat. campus...lol(they should have a separate pageant). ~on the other hand...unfortunately, that's reverse racism at its finest. Thank God my kids will grow up in such an accepting society-for who they r n not the color of their skin....wait...I guess thats STILL a dream…
Hampton Male Alum: HU students first are not jealous people. That statement doesn't even make sense in the context of this story.
More importantly this is a question of whether or not Nikole can accurately represent the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Hampton University. This is a perfectly fair question to ask of any Miss Hampton and more so with the winning of the first non-black Miss Hampton. I'm not saying that because she is white that she cannot represent the essence and soul of my school, it's incredible history, it's rich & diverse culture, it's beautiful black women. I am saying that it is a discussion worth having for the entire campus and larger community. People are always so afraid to discuss racial things in our society we can't possible move forward when the idea of even talking about something is rejected. I would further add that Nikole needs to be made aware of the full mantle of her position and who she represents. As someone familiar with the entire Miss Hampton process I know that its not easy to win and anyone whose made it as far as Nikole deserves to win. A big congrats is in order for her. I feel at least at the moment Nikole is the perfect person to open that conversation with our school instead of writing letters to the president accusing students (people she now represents) of racism and bullying. The majority of our campus welcomed this young lady with open arms, I think the letter and further media bliss has truly misrepresented our school.
Non-Hampton Caucasian Woman: Reading these comments is amazing to me! _______ is stating that Hampton "actually" had white & latino's playing sports for their college! Wow! White's are not even allowed a predominately white school without being called racist! _____'s statements sound like what white's would have said in the 70's & 80's when trying to let others know just how accepting they are! And Let's Get Real... our country is predominately white, so are you stating then that Obama is not able to be a good president, because he is not of the majority race?! The woman is American, regardless of where her ancestors came from & she's a student at the school, regardless of which campus she attends classes. She won fair & square. The students who are opposing this are racist & looking for excuses not to accept whites. What she's representing are college students, regardless of race.
Non-Hampton Woman: Mis-educated fools promote white supremacy better than whites! Images and actions are important to the youth. what will they learn from this? if we don't promote our own youth, will they? This is a classic example of the self-hatred and self-defeating behavior that makes black people the whipping post and stepping stone to our own demise. When whites can't make it in a white world, they thrive in the black world! They did this in black face in the past, but now they do it in white face.
Anonymous: People who don't attend Hampton and have never attended Hampton have no idea about the rich history and tradition we pride ourselves on here.
This is a family, a nurturing environment specifically for Black students, but also for all students who attend.
Coming from a person who knows about pageants and saw the pageant first hand Ms. Churchill was not the best contestant by far. The only thing that set her apart from the competition was her skin color.
It’s a well known fact that Dr. Harvey has been trying to win the Miss VA pageant for years and now he believes he's found his golden ticket, because we all know what the overwhelming image of pageant contestants is and its not black.
I am ashamed Ms. Churchill would write such a distasteful, poorly written letter to our President when she'd only been crowned for less than 48 hours. How much backlash could she possibly have experienced when she stepped foot on campus for a few hours just to attend the football game?
It’s funny that everyone fails to mention our Asian and white Mr. Pirate. He recieved no backlash because he is a part of the student body. He's been here for the last 4 years paying his dues along with the rest of us. HE'S A HAMPTONIAN
She knows it was in bad taste because she later recanted the letter and since the school as silenced her and not allowed her to do an unauthorized interviews.
I'm proud to go to Hampton. I attend classes with some of the most gifted young people you could ever meet. Our potential here is limitless. So do not base your judgement of my university off of this incident.
Hampton Alum Female: It is a shame and a disgrace to all of calibar who would have been better representatives of the entire student body. Was the white girl to afraid to make the drive and attend the main campus? Getting a free-ride on a reverse scholarship? Ever been to the main campus and attended the events or been a part of the family culture? Diversity is not good when there is no equality. Equality first, who cares about diversity. As an HU Alum, I am really bothered about the direction of the panel committee that made the final decision. I will not be making any sizeable donation this year. Forget what the outsiders say. Only the voices of current student body and the Alumni should be heard. Write to President Harvey and let him know how we feel so a better criteria and set of guidelines can be established. I'll bet you will never see a white Miss Howard. I'm sad to say it but I guess they are the real HU.
Disclaimer: These comments represent the opinions of the individual writers and do not reflect the views of EMQ Networks or its affiliates. Some comments have been edited for content. The writer’s names have been removed for purpose of anonymity. We encourage all to participate in moving the dialogue along by posting your comments below.
