Earlier this month, Hampton University, a historically black college, selected its first non-black homecoming queen. Nikole Churchill’s victory triggered a beauty pageant walkout and led Churchill to write a public letter to President Barack Obama in which she claimed Obama would be able to relate to the racism she was facing at the university.
Churchill competed against nine black students in the 15th annual Miss Hampton University scholarship pageant and won a $1,500 scholarship. The pageant included evening gown, swimsuit and talent competitions. Churchill will serve as the homecoming queen Oct. 24 and participate in the 2010 Miss Virginia Pageant.
Churchill attends Hampton’s Virginia Beach campus. While some feel that her victory embodies Hampton University’s spirit of diversity, others complain that she does not attend the main campus, located in Hampton.
The main campus has about 5,700 students, while the Virginia Beach campus accomodates only 90 students.
“They’re saying that people don’t know who she is, people don’t even see her, so how can she represent us if she’s not even from the main campus?” Hampton sophomore Juan Diasgranados said.
Diasgranados said a noticeable number of students walked out of the pageant when Churchill was crowned. He, however, was among the majority who stood and applauded. Approximately 900 students attended the pageant in Ogden Hall.
Two of the nine contestants scowled for the traditional portraits of winners and runners-up.
Churchill, whose father is from Guam and whose mother is Italian, who grew up in Hawaii. Her Hawaiian background led Hampton University students to nickname her “Lil Obama.”
In her letter to the president, Churchill invited Obama to speak about racial tolerance at the university. The letter was posted Sunday on Congress.org.
Brittany Riddock, a second-year student at Hampton, told the Washington Post that there was “no comparison between a black man becoming president and a white woman winning a beauty pageant at a black school.”
Churchill is not the first non-black student to become homecoming queen at a historically black college.
In April, Kentucky State University elected Elisabeth Martin as its 80th homecoming queen, making her the first white student to win.
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22 Comments
People, people…you need
People, people…you need to grow up. They’re more important and pressing issues in this world today than a non-African American winning a beauty pageant at HU. I grew up in Newport News and wanted to attend (then) Hampton Institute. I’ve traveled the world and completed a career in the Marine Corps, met people…no friends from around the globe and talked to them about HU. Told them it was a great school with open intelligent minds. And a few closed minded people can make an issue of this? Grow up, get up and smell the coffee! It is reversed racism and it needs to stop now! The President of the United States is not 100% white, yet he’s our elected President who is doing a great job. Both of the Secretarys of State Ms. Rice and Mr. Powell both selected to offices that they succeeded with and guess what…wasn’t white. So why is it okay to ridicule this young lady; who is a student of HU, that was qualified to run as a candidate for beauty queen. if that’s the way you want it, then stop all non-blacks from going to HU and you then can have it your way. It’s almost 2010, and its still about race??? Let it only be about the human race. I’ve always said, “if there was an alien attack from some species from out of space; do you think they would be selective in who they would want to destroy…it’s the human race and let it stand on that! I’m proud that anyone can win in a pageant or at anything in life…so let it go. By the way I am a proud black man that looks for change everyday, where we can all be equal.
They’re saying that
They’re saying that people don’t know who she is, people don’t even see her, so how can she represent us if she’s not even from the main campus?” Hampton sophomore Juan Diasgranados said.
this says it all. next year they will have section asking race on the nomination form. they voted for some one they don’t even see so i guess they are all dopes or liked her name. now that have seen her see isn’t black enuff.
You know why we have to put
You know why we have to put a focus on this? It’s because if the shoe were on the other foot, where it was a predominantly white college and a black girl won, no one would say sh-t. But because it’s mostly black and a white girl wins all of a sudden it’s a big friggin deal and the black girls are bitching. Hey, how come there is an all black Miss America, an all black Miss Universe and so on, but the whites can’t have an ALL WHITE MISS AMERICA!!! You know why? Because the blacks would be marching down 5th avenue in Manhattan with that piece of shit rebel rouser Al Sharpton.
Also, when this first hit the news they were saying that the white girl was claiming REVERSE DISCRIMINATION!! Who the hell all of a sudden gave the word DISCRIMINATION the definition of anyone against a black person????? There is no such thing as REVERSE DISCRIMINATION!!!
It’s truly sickening. The blacks want what they say is equality, like they don’t get enough already but they bitch and moan when someone from a different culture gets something. It’s bullshit.
i got something for all of
i got something for all of you. Why doesnt everyone stop focusing on race realize that all it is a person. You people who are complaining about it being a white person is the reason it is in the news in the first place. You guys are the reason that there is racism left in this country. If you would forget your bigotry and realize that we are just people this world would be a much better place. So, no, a white girl did not get elected homecoming queen. A girl did.
What’s the big deal.
What’s the big deal. What if this was a white University and they had their first black homecoing queen. People lighten up!!!!
Whats the big deal?
Whats the big deal? HBCU’s were created to empower black people at the time when we were either not allowed or were not treated equally at historically white universities. These historically white universities missions do not include to empower white people. Therefore if a black homecoming queen wouldn’t be a big deal because its not going against what the school stands for. However, at HBCU’s it goes completely against it. These schools recruits students who are looking for a place in which they don’t have to feel disadvantaged in this racist society. How would it look if the mission of the school tells you we are all about you but they have a picture of someone that looks nothing like you, once again putting the same problem you’re attempting to get away from, right back in your face? THAT’S THE BIG DEAL!!! And people stop comparing a beauty pageant at this school to the election of the first African American president of the united states. It’s not the same.
The different campus issue
The different campus issue is clearly just an excuse. You are telling me that people walked out of the ceremony and that the scowling runner-ups did so because she was from a different campus? Don’t allow racism to hide behind a shroud.
As a white woman, the only
As a white woman, the only issue I see is that she attends a satellite campus. To me, the important question is if she is involved in campus and school activities. It would only seem fair, since she will be represent HU at a state beauty pagent, that she be involved, otherwise, it is just a stepping stone to get in the beauty pagent world. If school policy allows non-active, non-resident students compete, then they needto change the by laws.
Keith, I’m afraid that
Keith,
I’m afraid that you’re a bit out of touch. People of every race CAN be racist. Furthermore, you mention that you went to Hampton for “black unity.” What would you say if I went to an all-white school for white unity?
Why was she allowed to run
Why was she allowed to run as the main campus queen if she was not a student there? Since she was allowed to run and won, she should be allowed to keep the honor.
Well said, this is CHANGE.
Well said, this is CHANGE.
Keith, you are an idiot.
Keith, you are an idiot. See below. Unless you know more than Merriam Webster, you need to stop posting.
Main Entry: rac·ism
Pronunciation: \ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also
ˌshi\Function: noun
Date: 1933
1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
2 : racial prejudice or discrimination
You’re the idiot I
You’re the idiot I minored I sociology you fool! Take a course and get a clue! Idiot! Never have African Americans ever been thought as superiority!
When I saw this story on
When I saw this story on the ABC news, there were so many black students in shock that she wasn’t black. They had a problem with this. Racism is not only reserved for whites. These students are clearly racist but it is never called that. I don’t get it.
Color should never be an issue. It is no different than hair color or gender. We are what we are. We are all people. Let’s grow up America! Leave our ignorant past behind us, learn from it and advance forward. Besides, the student body voted her in. Please comment but don’t bash.
It’s not called racism
It’s not called racism it’s called being prejudice. Racism is a system controlled by the majority. And that majority happens to be White American. So Black Americans are prejudice not racist.
What’s the problem we
What’s the problem we have an African American president and I went to Hampton for black unity and the black experience but that wasn’t the case. It turned into a class thing. The haves and the have nots it was a very interesting experience coming from the projects trying to do for myself. Before getting to Hampton I didn’t know we could be so prejudice towards one another!
I Graduated from HU and
I Graduated from HU and I’m glad she was chosen. I have to admit I went to HU looking for a “great black experience” only to see how petty many young black people are. The experienced opened my eyes to my own naivete concerning “my” people. So, don’t judge this young lady for running and winning. They chose her and she accepted. I was also in the USN for almost 11 years (the Navy sent me to Hampton U) so my opinions are based on observations of people. The students/non-students who are upset need to sit down and Harvey needs to stand up for this young lady and put this to rest. Hampton University is one of the few predominately black schools that could “cross-over” with its representation. The long term goal of any institution is to keep its doors open and to provide a viable education for ALL people. Black folk can’t “covet” the institutions for the sake of themselves if they want to see any real growth or change.
For those of you concerned about our being true to our past and not forgetting, yes history matters, but we live in the here and now. So I say, record it, remember it, but move forward. Hampton University is here now and its serving a major purpose in our society. If you don’t advance with the times you get left behind or die out completely (look at a many of the other HBCU’s, they are in disastrous and a pathetic state of affairs). Most colleges or institutions in America began in obscurity. The major schools or what we consider premier institutions that exist today have opened themselves up to diversity and are doing exceptionally well. For those residents of Hampton Roads look at CNU. That school is a state school and its being pushed to a level that HU should have already surpassed. Harvey has connections just like Trible did. Black folk need to stop coveting and lamenting over trivial “things” that don’t matter and move toward greatness.
Hey I’m black and I
Hey I’m black and I don’t see an issue with this. If she attends the school , did what she had to do in the contest what the big deal.
Obviously, you have never
Obviously, you have never attended an HBCU, especially Hampton University. You are addressing the issue of race (which I’m sure plays a part) when in fact the issue of relationships is the primary focus. From the 1st day you set foot on an HBCU (Hampton University) until the day you graduate you position yourself to develop relationships with your fellow peers that will hold a secret place in your heart for the rest of your life. There are people you may never hang out with, those you may not even like, and many you may only know in passing. The point is you do know something about them. Who they hang with, what you don’t like about them, and you recognized them when you pass them. There are many black students at Hampton University who interact with students of another culture and would not mind if a white, latino, chinese, or any other race won the contest because they know them. By the way this is not a race issue. The beautiful young lady is part Guamanian and part French. which does not make her white(regardless of what she looks like). In all this controversy she is now Miss. Hampton. I would say to her make yourself more visible on the main campus, allow the students to get to know you. It’s not going to be easy because you are starting backwards in establishing relationships with peolpe you represent.
Obviously there’s some
Obviously there’s some issues for a woman to be voted by the student body as Queen and then is stated by any student as not have relations on campus. Then to be at a time when a both a black man (Kenyan and Irish) gets into the White House and a white woman (Guamanian and French) is homecoming queen to a traditionally black university. WOW, it’s like skin color isn’t an issue for the majority. Why would people care about qualifying who a person is by their parents genes BTW? Good luck with your relations there. I’ll move on while the small relation world (I attended “ U”) circles to balance the idea of color with position, and popularity. To see things like, “OMG, a white Homecoming Queen!” from a community brings the question; Does this need world attention from critical students and alumni?... Did you give attention to the past homecoming queens the same way?
Miss Hampton from an outsider appears to have embraced her role and her campus. To do so from a branch campus is nothing more than a completely deliberate act, so don’t play it down. Branch campus students commonly get viewed a being less than their main campus counterparts across the nation as academic discrimination. The view of the HBCU attendees should be to embrace Miss Hampton, or go follow the growing world belief by get some white sheets to express their views for “white, latino, or chinese” (or other Americans and mixed ethnic children that get labeled by color). Clearly, she broke down some long held ideas as an outsider and for that she should be commended. She certainly is a person you want to know on whatever campus you’re at. Best advice is to welcome her and make a friend, but don’t ask her to come seeking your approval.
All of the above comments
All of the above comments are well received; however, there are many elements of this that I think are not being discussed.
I completely agree with the comment that the new Queen is working backwards in an effort to get to know who she represents …I can tell you as a Graduate of Tuskegee in the early 90’s, and having many high school classmates attend historically black colleges nationwide, there have been many students that have not been African American that have achieved endearment at HBCUs; football players, sorority membership,SGA etc.; but in all those cases the students were active on campus and loved by their student body.
Part of the HBCU experience is the family of the University; the bond that is developed that can never be broken simply through the experience. It cannot be expressed in words, but it is a definate reality. More than a issue of race, I think it is a issue of familiarity, as one of the statements indicated, the King is not black either.. however, it makes a difference if you are there at pep rallies, freshman events, football games, line crossings ( and of course the step shows).
An HBCU is the full experience – education, growth, a connection with your past, and an obligation to work toward the future. This is not something that you can cherish or repesent if you are not there.
I also commend this young
I also commend this young woman. I viewed this news report on my evening news and found only three points of interest. One, she is a student who was elected by her peers as Homecoming Queen. Why the ruckus? Two, several students of color interviewed with regard to her status as Homecoming Queen made the comment… “I want someone who looks like me to represent me”. Had I, as a white woman, said the same of President Obama, I would be labled a racist. No question. Three, she has written to the President, who is a fellow Hawaiian, no response. Given the recent nationwide opposition to President Obama’s policies, those of us who oppose the policies are being labled racist. Reverse discrimenation? Absolutely.