Racial Doubts At Va. College Homecoming

Washington Post ^ | October 16, 2009 | Jenna Johnson

[La Lydia]

HAMPTON, Va. -- Nikole Churchill, a tall, thin woman with long, dark hair, was named homecoming queen at historically black Hampton University last week. The next day, she appeared with her court at the football game against Howard University, another historically black school. All this would be unremarkable except that Churchill is the first homecoming queen at Hampton who is not black. That apparently did not sit well with a handful of people at the game, who heckled the senior nursing major. This bit of unpleasantness, along with similar comments online, might have passed unnoticed except for what Churchill did next. She posted a public letter to President Obama on a Web site asking him to visit the campus and help with her predicament.

"I feel as though you could relate to my situation," wrote Churchill, 22, who grew up in Hawaii and performed a hula as her beauty pageant talent. "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" the school.

Obama hasn't responded, but the school, established in 1868 to educate freed slaves, has become embroiled in a discussion about race...

The comparisons Churchill made between herself and Obama also angered some students: "We all had to go through a lot more racial intolerance than what she had to in a pageant," said Brittany Riddock, 19, a sophomore public relations major from Atlanta. "There is no comparison at all between a black man becoming president and a white woman winning a beauty pageant at a black school."...

[La Lydia]

The picture at the link is priceless. Two runners-up are not happy. Imagine if this had been a black homecoming queen at a "historically white" college, and she had been heckled. Paging Al Sharpton. Will Al Sharpton please come to the "white" courtesy phone in the lobby? Also, notice how the writer of the story manages to shift it from "black students heckle white student" to "white student angers black students by writing to Obama."

[jessduntno]

The picture at the link is priceless. Two runners-up are not happy. Imagine if this had been a black homecoming queen at a "historically white" college, and she had been heckled. Paging Al Sharpton. Will Al Sharpton please come to the "white" courtesy phone in the lobby? Also, notice how the writer of the story manages to shift it from "black students heckle white student" to "white student angers black students by writing to Obama."

[ClearCase_guy]

Blacks are the biggest racists. This is why racial concerns are off the table for me. People are people — treat them as individuals, not groups.

[sweet_diane]

If she’s the Homecoming Queen the student body voted for, then leave her the heck alone!

[RexBeach]

Now that’s precious, isn’t it? And it’s not racist either, is it?

After all, black folk aren’t prejudice, are they? No.

Now let’s see, 96% of black voters in America voted for Mr. Obama. Nothing racist there, ay?

[vladimir998]

“We all had to go through a lot more racial intolerance than what she had to in a pageant,” said Brittany Riddock, 19, a sophomore public relations major from Atlanta.

BS. Most blacks in this country today experience little or no serious racial intolerance.

[HIDEK6]

"We all had to go through a lot more racial intolerance than what she had to in a pageant," said Brittany Riddock, 19,

Oh, Jesus, spare me.

[Grunthor]

Blacks are generally the most racist people on the planet. Not usually in a one on one situation, but as a group they can be pretty hate-filled.

[Scanian]

Talk about “if looks could kill.” The two on the right look homicidal.

[mmichaels1970]

"We all had to go through a lot more racial intolerance than what she had to in a pageant," said Brittany Riddock, 19

Yup. I'm sure it's been a real tough 19 years for you Brittany. Enjoy the university!

[ought-six]

“Blacks are the biggest racists. This is why racial concerns are off the table for me. People are people — treat them as individuals, not groups.”

Yup.

[nmh]

Obviously she is another OBAMA FAN!

How stupid can she be? BLACKS are the biggest racists out there. I wouldn't be suprised if Obama did show up - only because he is an attention hog and this would add to his lies of NOT being a major RACIST.

[hemogoblin]

Wait till they find out she’s also a guy!

[Scanian]

Intolerance? Honey, have you ever considered that maybe it’s because your personality really sucks??

[hometoroost]

Hey it’s not like it’s racism-racism. There is bad racism and then there are black people who hate everyone else. That’s okay and Obama won’t go to the campus or have anyone over for a beer on this one.

[nmh]

They all look like jazzed up hoes.

[Unassuaged]

“BS. Most blacks in this country today experience little or no serious racial intolerance.”

Serious Question: How the Heck would you, or anybody, know that?

[Patrsup]

Oh - those racists - just like this idiot:

The laws in this city are clearly racist. All laws are racist. The law of gravity is racist. - Marion Berry

[nmh]

#9 The “evil eye” is alive and well.

[STONEWALLS]

...there’s enormous differences of caste and class among negros...redbones versus bamas...high yellows versus blue gums...if your face was lighter than a grocery store bag you got certain societial privileges....been that way in the South ever since some worked in the fields and some worked in the big house.