As a little girl, I plopped myself in front of the television whenever the Miss America pageant aired. I hoped and hoped that this year, the new Miss America would look more like me: tanned skin with dark hair. I usually rooted for Miss Hawaii because, of all the contestants, she looked the most like me. As I grew older, the flashy dresses and sparkling tiaras lost their shine. I gave up watching the Miss America pageant some time during my early teens.
Yesterday, Miss New York Nina Davuluri was crowned as Miss America 2014. She’s the first Miss America of Indian descent. For me, an Asian American, this momentous occasion. She was barely crowned when Twitter blew up with racist tweets attacking her American-ness. Or lack thereof. I didn’t watch the pageant, but I learned about her crowning and the subsequent tweets through my Facebook and Twitter feeds.
When I read my BlogHer Voices of the Year 2013 Kenote post “I’m Tired of Defending My Nationality” in July, I received plenty of feedback during the reception. Many bloggers approached me to share their stories of how others assume they are not American based on the color of their skin or even their facial features. Some didn’t realize that how they worded their curiosity might be construed as an assumption that I am not an American.
I even had several people who didn’t understand what I was so angry about. How could I be upset by people who just wanted to know about my background? I even had someone use those dreaded “you people” term. They didn’t understand what the big deal was.
Miss America 2014 is a big deal. A 24-year-old American of Indian ascent who is so proud of her heritage that she performs a Bollywood fusion dance as her talent. That’s very unusual in the pageant world. Usually it’s belting out operas or Broadway songs or classic Western-style dances. Even her platform (which all Miss American contestants are required to have) “Celebrating Diversity through Cultural Competency” shows how important diversity is to her.
As Americans we should be celebrating her win. Instead her accomplishments are marred by ignorant people are upset because she’s not American.
We should all be angry about the racism directed towards Nina Davuluri. It’s a reminder that even though the current United States President is black, America is not post-racial anything. Let’s express our shock and indignation on Facebook, Twitter, tumblr or whatever social media platform appeals to you most.
I hope you’ll do more than express your anger. No matter the color of your skin, you can help. Use your words by educating those around you. If you are a parent, start with your children. Talking about race and diversity at a young age are extremely important. More and more research shows that children form their opinions about race at a young age. As adults we are scared to talk about race with each other because we don’t want to say the wrong thing so we ignore the elephant in the room until something like this happens.
Empower yourself and your children. Expose them to diversity with books, cultural festivals, and food (especially food!). Teach them to respect everyone’s cultural heritage. Do the same for yourself.
I plan on tell my daughter about Miss America 2014 and what a milestone it is. I’m also going to tell her about the racism that was expressed afterwards. We’re going to celebrate and educate.
I hope you’ll do the same.
Photos courtesy of MissAmerica.org
I woke up to the aftermath and found myself flabbergasted. Well, that's a lie. I wasn't really shocked. I was disappointed to be proven right yet again. Thank you for telling it like it is. Thank you for standing up and educating and sharing your personal story. It's so important that we tear down the barriers and force people to examine their thoughts and behaviors when it comes to race.
As a fellow mom of bi-racial children, one of which looks NOTHING like me, we have our work cut out for us to make our world, specifically, our country a more open and accepting place.
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Great post and very inspiring!
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Miss Hawaii was always my favorite too. Physically I am in such an odd position in the US. I am mainly Italian and Polish, however on the streets of many cities I have experienced some of the most blatant bias & based on my skin tone- because I look pretty indistinguishable to some as either Hispanic or sometimes Indian. This has sensitized me to the fact that there are quite a few nasty individuals out there. I try to use my unique position to help educate others. It still baffles me that most everyone that lives in this country has a relative that was an immigrant at some point, but there are some that have forgot that. Why do many feel they need to question the citizenship or race? Why the hatred? Thank you for writing this post. We must not b e afraid to counteract the ignorance by speaking up.
You are the only person who told me that she routed for Miss Hawaii!
I'm so glad I haven't seen any craziness in my social media feeds. She's gorgeous. She's intelligent. She's confident. This is a moment to be celebrated by ALL of us.
P.S. love the new blog design!
I didn't watch Miss America, and I went to bed early so I missed all of the social media drama. That being said, this a fabulous post, and one everyone should read.
Love the new blog look!
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Thanks for reading Jodi. I didn't watch it either. Just saw the posts about the racist tweets.
Absolutely love your post! Thank you for providing an inspiration to us all.
Being a 1.5 generation Filipino-American, moved to the U.S. when I was 3, I am only but proud to be an American serving my country as a United State Army Officer. I was fortunate to have moved around the world growing up as my own father, Filipino-American himself, continues to serve his country as an NCO in the United States Army. Despite being proud Filipinos ourselves, I am completely astonished to hear about a person born in America, not of European descent, be rejected by their own country. I would be baffled to hear others ridicule the success of my siblings who were born in the United States.
Again, thank you for this great article on the crowning of Nina Davuluri as Miss America.
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Thanks for sharing. While the racist comments don’t deserve attention, it’s a sad reminder of the ignorance out there. We need to continue to share our voices. I speak on diversity issues and my main theme is “know yourself, be yourself, share yourself.” I spent my early years trying to be more non asian. Now I not only embrace my culture I celebrate it and share it with my children and the world.
i positively agree with you i am proud of being an oriental speciss but please keep this in your mind indians are no less than nazis when it's comes racism!! They do it to their own countrymen!! but i am proud of your comment!
Great blog post! I really enjoyed it.
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She’s amazingly beautiful inside and outside, no matter what others think..
Racism is so stupid these days, is sort as a spiritual disease. To be a racist is also being ignorant of how genetics issues rule the world and how through genetical combination, the human race ensures its future. Different races enrich the world and secure the conservation of our species.
Do the racist understand that? I do not think so. The ironic thing is that being racist is being inferior.
Dear, do not be sad or sorrow, I think the most of people do understand that different races make the world a better place, but they do not say it cause is so normal and human to think like that. And a few people are ignorant racists, but they’re so displeased with theirselves that they have to be talking about it everywhere…
Congrats to miss America! What a beautiful woman! A rose among the people of the world !
I was very upset (and scared) to read of all the racist comments directed at her; but the ones that made me the most angry were those that assumed that she wasn't American because she wasn't white.
Our country is and has always been a melting pot – it's one of the greatest assets.