When you think of Miss America, do you picture a pretty looking, Caucasian with blonde hair wearing the crown? Are you thinking of someone like her?
(Theresa Vail)
Well I guess we can have a second thought about that because Nina Davulri, an Indian – American, was just recently crowned as Miss America a few months ago. After Nina Davulri was crowned, she became the target of negative racist comments online. Such as;
“This is Miss America… Not Miss Foreign Country.”
She received a lot of hateful comments about her race just because she wasn't white and she was crowned as Miss America. People thought that Theresa Vail (the girl shown above) should have won. She was the second runner-up at the Miss America Pageant and represented Kansas. Theresa Vail can relate to what people in America would want as the "real" Miss America. Over the years, the winners who were crowned as Miss America were all caucasian and with that, everyone thought that they most represented America because they were white.
(Theresa Vail)
Well I guess we can have a second thought about that because Nina Davulri, an Indian – American, was just recently crowned as Miss America a few months ago. After Nina Davulri was crowned, she became the target of negative racist comments online. Such as;
“This is Miss America… Not Miss Foreign Country.”
“Asian or indian are you kiddin this is america omg."
"More like Miss Terrorist #MissAmerica."
"More like Miss Terrorist #MissAmerica."
{Source: Twitter}
In America, people only have thought that Caucasians could represent the American culture. Let's look at Obama for example. There have been some cases where people in America have believed that since Obama is black he can't be the President only because he isn't white. So, therefore he was being misrepresented by the nation and his point of becoming President was being ignored. Or another example we can look at is the popular movie, Hunger Games. There was a certain character in the film that gained a lot of racist fans over the African - American girl that played Rue. One fan asked, "Why does Rue have to be black?" To my surprise, that in the book the author actually had described Rue as having 'dark brown skin'. The examples I had provided relates to the Indian Miss America because over the years, Americans thought that since whites are represented in the American culture, they believe that the whites can only be the 'face' of america, if you know what I mean. What they don't know is that there are so many different kinds of races that could represent one culture in a certain way. The message I want to get across here is that a lot of people get sucked into their tradition over the years that it is hard for them to come to realize that there can be more then one race that could be represented in their culture/nationality.
Questions:
1) What are your thoughts on an Indian American being Miss America?
2) Why do you think the Americans thought this way towards the Indian Miss America?
3) Do you think Nina Davulri deserves to be bashed on? Why or why not?
4) Why do you think the Americans act this way towards their tradition?
Questions:
1) What are your thoughts on an Indian American being Miss America?
2) Why do you think the Americans thought this way towards the Indian Miss America?
3) Do you think Nina Davulri deserves to be bashed on? Why or why not?
4) Why do you think the Americans act this way towards their tradition?
Sources:
This was very well written blog about a very big issue. As for your questions, my feelings towards an American from Indian decent being crowned as Miss America are positive because the world should realize that the society we live in is no longer represented by one culture or a "dominant" race.
ReplyDeleteAlthough i do not justify what comments were made by the some Americans, i can see why they say such things. Americans tend to be very conservative and try to hold on to tradition. But, in today's changing society, as you can see with Nina, tradition is beginning to change and typical old school Americans are threatened by this. So, they lash out with ridiculous comments because they have no other means of going about the situation.
Nina has done nothing to be ridiculed, all she did was enter a competition and she won. There is no reason for her to be bashed on.
Some Americans are just threatened by change, because change can lead to anything and they are completely fine with the way things have been done in the past.
Well done Erica!
I agree with you, because i did a post earlier regarding the Miss Universe Pageant where a model was rejected and disqualified from the contest for being a Transsexual. Similarly, we have the same scenario in here. Indians do make up a chunk of population in America and do deserve rights just like any other Caucasian American. You are right when you said Americans are threatened by change and do not want a liberal society. They want things to continue in the same way as before.
DeleteDavuluri is just as beautiful and talented as the other contestants in the pageant. I think the reason why Americans are so reluctant to accept her is because of their deep history of racism. Over the years, in the public's eye they've tried to appear as though they've moved on from their past, but this incident evidently shows how nothing has changed. The media's unneccesary backlash, especially on social media, shows how ignorance and hatred can spread so easily and with so little regret.
ReplyDeleteThat's right! I totally agree with you. The Americas are still used to thinking that only Caucasians should have the right to remain in the spotlight while the other races are put under the shadows. Only because they don't come to realize that their country is now evolving so that means that their could be more races representing their community.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts about having an Indian American being Miss America is great! Nina Davulri is beautiful and deserves it no matter what people say. This is the 21st CENTURY! I hate to say this but there are a lot of ignorant people that are not accepting to breaking traditions. Nina has done nothing to deserve such harsh backlash from americans. They need to realize society is changing and traditions are meant to be broken sooner or later.
ReplyDeleteFor the first question, I think she is deserved to become Miss America. Because it doesn’t matter what type of skin, race, ethnicity, and religion, everyone deserve to have equal right.
ReplyDeleteFor the second question, it’s because who were crowned as Miss America was all Caucasian from the previous year. Just like in the big pageant “Miss Universe,” if there is a person with Dark Skin won, everyone will judge on her more. But if Miss Venezuela wins, then it’s considered as normal because they win so often. Dominance discourse plays role in making us believe that America should have Caucasian as presenter of Beauty.
Nina Davulri a.k.a Miss. America, is a beautiful, intelligent, caring, amazing American. She deserved to be crown Miss. America. Plain and simple. Your skin colour should not determine whether you are American or can win a pageant. The United States keeps making it seem that they've stopped with their racist ideologies, where nobody is discriminated based on their skin colour or ethnic background. When Nina won, it was clear that they haven't gotten over their stereotypes and traditions. To answer question three, Nina does not deserve to be insulted like this. She is a beautiful America who has every right to own that title. Her skin colour and ethnicity should not be a problem or limit her from anything. We are living in society where everything is becoming so diverse and we need to accept change.
ReplyDeleteI believe that there should be no problem with an Indian American winning Miss America. Each contestant that enters should have fair judging and can only win if they truly deserve it. If there was a set rule on how the winner should look, such as a certain skin color, then the competition should have eliminated every female who did not meet the expectations. This would be silly right? The reason they have these competition is so that they could find the best female out of America. People who bash Nina Davulri just because she is Indian, are ignorant. Beauty is also judged skin deep and not only reliant on outer appearance.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! Maybe re-educating some Americans might help them realize they live in a much more diverse country where no race is really dominant anymore.
ReplyDeleteIt is hypocritical to say that your skin colour determines whether or not you are America. For a country that calls itself the home of the free, that is extremely ironic. Let's ignore the fact that these beauty contests are just lousy entertainment for teen girls. Nina Davulri does not deserve the backlash from the racist ignorant people because she may have a background from India but she is American. If you apply the same logic to them, Ms. America should be in Aboriginal because it was technically their land before the British came along.
ReplyDeleteI think its pretty cool. It's a bit of a slap in the face towards racism. Well cause she was not american. If i was in there position I'd be a bit iffy about the situation too. Not to an extreme extent though. Definitely not. She should be praised. She smashed the stereotypes of Indians being ugly and stinky and became Miss America.Not sure why. Maybe as many racists say " America is for Americans". It's not a surprise that this the reaction but it's a step towards breaking down barriers, which is great!
ReplyDelete