Strong social media commentary adds to pageant win backlash
The 87th Miss America pageant just took place this past Sunday, crowning Nina Davuluri the 2013 winner. Davuluri is the first woman of Indian descent to win the title.
Many of the reactions that took place to the winner’s apparent diversity are nothing short of appalling.
There is a lot of controversy surrounding the choice of winner based upon her ethnicity. Twitter users are posting comments such as “Miss American Terrorist” and “Miss Al-Qaeda”, and some posing the question “Don’t you have to be American to win Miss America?”
It saddens me to see the evidence of the racism that still exists in this world. It is hard to imagine that in the year 2013, these racist thoughts and ideas still exist.
Mel Evans / AP Photo: Miss America 2013, Nina Davuluri, poses following her crowning in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Davuluri’s Indian ethnicity is causing controversy and an uproar of bigoted comments.
A lot of backlash towards the pageant proposes the idea that the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11 and the pageant winner are related. To think that Davuluri is a Muslim extremist is such a far-out-there idea with absolutely no supporting evidence behind it.
These people are presenting these wild ideas about the motives of her winning, with nothing to back it up.
All that this has proven is that ignorance and bigotry are clearly not going anywhere. It is heartbreaking that we are still dealing with issues of race, especially in a country as diverse as the United States. When will people finally realize that everyone is different, and this does not make anyone any more or less of a human being than someone else?
Fortunately, Davuluri is reacting gracefully and maturely to the remarks being made on her skin color.
She has responded in a positive light, saying that for every horrible comment she receives, there are many more encouraging words. It is nice to know that this has not hurt her so badly that she thinks of herself as any less beautiful or deserving of the crown.
It should be noted that Davuluri also received a lot of negativity when she was crowned Miss New York. Why is it that so many think she is undeserving of the crown?
The U.S. is supposed to be the “melting pot”, including races of all kinds and people of all different backgrounds. Who is anyone to say that someone is more or less of an American based on this?
The blatant racism is just proof of the bigotry that has always existed and does not seem to be changing anytime soon. It is time for people to realize that human beings are so vastly different in a multitude of ways, but we should still treat everyone with respect.
Devon Roberts can be contacted at
droberts@keene-equinox.com