Crowning of first non-black Miss Hampton University divides campus

I am a former HBCU queen and I think this is outstanding. However, the difference is that at some schools such as my alma mater, the students vote for their university queen. I do believe this young lady is deserving if she successfully met the criterion and wowed the judges. I agree that we should applaud this milestone for a school that was founded during an era when the exclusion of others based on their skin color was a status quo. By setting a precedence, Hampton University displaying progression for a segment of modern day race relations. Congratulations to Ms. Churchill.

Black people HATE it when they feel like they are denied opportunities or disallowed to participate or declined recognition based on the color of their skin. Every situation that even remotely hints at this occurring is blown up and marched on by some equal rights group. So, it’s not ok to do it to them, but its ok for them to do it to everyone else? It seems to me what’s good for the goose in good for the gander. You can’t have it both ways.

CONGRATS!!!!!!!! I dislike the mentality of most HU students. They are a bunch of jealous people.

The DP has gone back to topix???

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.

shaddup

I am Hampton University Alumni and some are your comments in regards to the article are disgraceful. The big issue is not in regards to the color of the girl’s skin. I attended Hampton in 1997 and completed my studies in 2004 and it has always been a diverse campus with other ethnic groups. The big issue is not her race; it is mainly about her not being a part of the student body at the main campus. We have had Caucasian play on our football team, Brazilians play on tennis team at the school. They weren’t just athletes but they were also a part of the everyday schools population. The same we learned the history of the different building and the important of dressing for every event that you attend Ogden Hall they also learned too. Nikole attends the satellite campus of Hampton University, if she was to come on the main campus would she be able to tell you the meaning of the some of the building or even provide you the directions on how to get to and from the different buildings on the campus. When she graduates in May 2010 is she going to actually now the signifcance of crossing the Odgen Circle at 12:00 midnight

Just another example of reverse racism.

Reading these comments is amazing to me! Karmen Gray 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! Karmen'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.

Congratulations to Ms. Churchill.... You look stunning, saw you on CNN this morning... Wow, Nice.

This makes no sense at all. The judges picked her as the qualified representative. HU should be proud, and stop getting all this negative press. She is a student there, that qualifies her, not her color or lack of it. She actually has a good chance at the Miss VA pageant by her qualifications. What isher talent?

My daughter walked into my room and told me about Ms. Churchill winning Miss Hampton University title and as a result it has divided the campus. I realize that everyone has a right to view life's event in the manner they choose but the negative responses seem reflective of her color and the the location of the campus. The highway runs both ways and racism from either white people or black people is wrong. I often wonder if in my life time will we ever judge people on their accomplishments rather than the shell the body is. housed in. I sincerely hope so for the sake of humanity because if we do not we are all doomed. The judges selected her based on her performance in meeting the criteria then she should be supported, respected and accepted.

-- In response to Ms. Gray---You say the "big issue" in this situation is not the race of this beautiful woman, but rather her not being part of the student body at the main campus. This girl won a PAGEANT. A pageant. Scored by judges. A preliminary to Miss Virginia. If HU alumni and students want a campus queen or a tour guide they should elect one. Change the rules. Create a new competition and allow the student body to vote. You say its not about this girl's race. But in account after account HU alumni and students sound racist. Surely that is not how you want to be represented.

Karmen Gray Washington DC wrote:

I am Hampton University Alumni and some are your comments in regards to the article are disgraceful. The big issue is not in regards to the color of the girl’s skin. I attended Hampton in 1997 and completed my studies in 2004 and it has always been a diverse campus with other ethnic groups. The big issue is not her race; it is mainly about her not being a part of the student body at the main campus. We have had Caucasian play on our football team, Brazilians play on tennis team at the school. They weren’t just athletes but they were also a part of the everyday schools population. The same we learned the history of the different building and the important of dressing for every event that you attend Ogden Hall they also learned too. Nikole attends the satellite campus of Hampton University, if she was to come on the main campus would she be able to tell you the meaning of the some of the building or even provide you the directions on how to get to and from the different buildings on the campus. When she graduates in May 2010 is she going to actually now the signifcance of crossing the Odgen Circle at 12:00 midnight

I will NOT be hiring the young lady in the white dress.

I currently attend Hampton U. and i must say that I am happy for the young lady, i believe the real issue is the fact that she attends a satellite campus. The students at the other campus have no dealings with regular students on campus. the queen is meant to be the face of the student body, not someone that will be disconnected. I am a grad student on campus and i know how disconnected other grad students and myself are from other students. There is no way a student at a satellite campus can really represent the student body accurately regardless of the color of her skin.

I think everyone knows it not about the satellite campus. If she had not been "non-black" there wouldn't have been a peep about it.

Come on folks....she's a member of the HUMAN race.
Jeez....When will we all finally figure that out about ourselves and stop getting wrapped around the axle over the color of ones skin pigmentation.

As for the satellite campus issue, she's an enrolled student at this university isn't she?????

Nuff said!!

I am HU ALUMNI and I DIDN'T understand why her race was an issue... UNTIL I found out she attended a satellite campus located in another city. That shed some clarity on the controversy, but I still support Ms. Churchill.

THE STUDENT BODY PERSPECTIVE
What many non-Hamptonians need to understand is that Hampton is a relatively small school. It is not in a large metropolitan city. There isn't much to do in the area at all. Believe me I know, I was born and raised in the area and graduated from Hampton. Therefore, I truly believe the fact that Ms. Churchill attends the satellite location in another city is a rather problematic pill to swallow for the main student body of HU. ONLY 90 students attend the satellite campus. So the student body has been assigned a representative that they don't know, and I can understand the frustration.

When I was at HU, I attended the pageant, watched the winner get crowned, and was able to see her around campus, to provide that friendly hello and smile. Its important to have the person representing the school to have a connection to the student body, no one can argue that point!

THE RACE CARD
Perhaps in this case, the only issue is that she attends the satellite campus!!

So as far as RACE is concerned, the REAL QUESTION IS WHO IS PLAYING THE RACE CARD? Is it the alumni or is it Ms. Churchill?

MS. CHURCHILL
Nonetheless, I still congratulate Ms. Churchill on her performance. Apparently, she did enough in the competition to outshine the others. The school gave her the opportunity to compete, and she did so well enough to win. Its really the school's fault for not thinking this entire situation through. Its just sad that her accomplishment is soaked in so much drama.

Disgusted wrote:

-- In response to Ms. Gray---You say the "big issue" in this situation is not the race of this beautiful woman, but rather her not being part of the student body at the main campus. This girl won a PAGEANT. A pageant. Scored by judges. A preliminary to Miss Virginia. If HU alumni and students want a campus queen or a tour guide they should elect one. Change the rules. Create a new competition and allow the student body to vote. You say its not about this girl's race. But in account after account HU alumni and students sound racist. Surely that is not how you want to be represented.
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You are so right. If the students wanted a queen or a tour guide, then change the rules and elect one. And trust me, if we could have prevented our administration and powers that be from changing from an election to a pageant, then in 1994, we would have done so. But as it stands, the duty of Miss Hampton is to not only represent her school in the Miss Virginia pageant, but to also represent and SERVE her student body. How can one serve a student body with which she has no or little connection? She won, and I am sure that she will represent the school positively off campus. However, as Miss HU 2009-2010, she needs to realize that instead of writing and soliciting Barack Obama to come and speak to the students about racism, she needs to put pen to paper and write that speech herself. This action proves that she doesn't quite have a grasp on what being an queen of an HBCU encompasses. I also realize that she doesn't need criticism; she needs guidance. She deserves guidance.

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.