From another board: Miss Hampton (non-black) writes to Pres. Obama

[WileECoyote06]

She is fine as wine. . . . .



22 year old Nikole Churchill was crowned Miss Hampton University on Friday night. For those of you who are not familiar, Hampton University is an HBCU located in Virginia. Churchill reached out to President Barack Obama, asking that he make an appearance on the campus, as she feels that his presidency and her win shows how far we’ve come. A lot of students at Hampton are sounding off, stating that Churchill will not be able to properly represent their all Black university (by the way…Churchill’s mother is Italian and her father is from Guam). You can peep the letter that she wrote to Obama after the break. What say you, guys and gals? Are we proud of her accomplishment or disappointed that a Black student wasn’t chosen?

To:
President Barack Obama

October 11, 2009

Aloha Mr. Obama!

My name is Nikole Churchill, a senior nursing major at Hampton University. This past Friday October 9, 2009, I was honored to be crowned Miss Hampton University 2009-2010. It truly was the best night of my life! With that being said, I am sad to say…… that my crowning was not widely accepted and many negative comments regarding my win have been shared throughout my campus.

It would be much easier to say that possibly some were not accepting of the news because I wasn’t the most qualified contestant; however, the true reason for the disapproval was because of the color of my skin. I am not African-American. Despite the unfortunate beliefs that some are saying I should not have won, I am desperately trying to focus on those who believe in me and support me and my goal to represent this beautiful, multicultural campus the very best way that I can. I would love your help!

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, but rather be proud of the changes our nation is making towards accepting diversity. People are even nicknaming me, “lil Obama” because of various reasons. This is truly an honor as well!

I am also from Hawaii (Wahiawa) and I am hoping that you can assist me in opening some closed minds and help share some aloha spirit throughout my campus. I feel as though you could relate to my situation, which is why I immediately wanted to contact you. I was interviewed last night at the HU vs. HU football game by news channel 13 and I mentioned how individuals such as you and myself are making changes in hopes people can stop placing so much focus on our skin color by letting that define what we can, cannot, should, and/or should not do. Dr. Harvey welcomed me last night to the family with open arms and I was beyond honored when he told me that he is behind me 100%. I am proud to represent Hampton University and I am so proud having you to represent our home, our country. Your support with my crowning as Miss Hampton University 2009-2010 would be graciously appreciated. Please reply, I will be looking forward to it!

-Nikole Churchill

Virginia Beach , VA


    

[LULions]

IMHO, if she won the vote, then she's Miss Hampton.  I think we have pressing issues in our community like black on black crime, low black male enrollments in colleges than to get worked up on who Mr. or Mrs is.  There were many articles last year about Morehouse's validictorian, heck we had a white validictorian at Lincoln in 1975, and I'm not even sure if he was the first one.

[WileECoyote06]

IMHO, if she won the vote, then she's Miss Hampton.  I think we have pressing issues in our community like black on black crime, low black male enrollments in colleges than to get worked up on who Mr. or Mrs is.  There were many articles last year about Morehouse's validictorian, heck we had a white validictorian at Lincoln in 1975, and I'm not even sure if he was the first one.

I think the students are mad because there wasn't a campus-wide vote.  She went to the Virginia Beach campus, not the main campus, so many students didn't know who she was.  But alas, it was a judged pageant and she won.  I

[Jay_Thomas]

well, she is an HU student.

[J007]

This is what I posted on the other board.
Obama does not allow or encourage people to get caught up in his race.
He disagreed with Jimmy Carter when he attempted to call racism.
This queen could use her role to bring people together but it
appears she is trying to divide and get attention for herself. what a
career coup for her if she gets Obama to come to and speak on
inclusion. She'd be all over t.v. making it look like black college
students are racists.
she is on the divide and conquer plan.
I am disturbed when the figurehead seems to want to make
the student body look bad. I wonder what's really going on. I have
met too many white folks who went to HBCU and were well recieved and
elected to leadership to think she isn't exaggerating.I know that we're in the age of Obama, but I'm not really sure how I feel about this. On the surface, it bothers me a great deal. I feel that somethings, you just be left the way it is. I realize that's ignorant, and in some realms makes me no better than Joe "You Lie" Wilson. But come on... I'm coming from the perspective that for many many many many years, we had to create our OWN - because we couldn't be apart of what the majority had going on. So now, in the age of Hope and Change, I know we are supossed to embrace all and be down for all causes of goodness, and humanity. But , this just doesn't feel right to me. It just doesn't. I would by no means disrespect this young lady, and I do wish her well, but this has left a bad taste in my mouth, and I'm just disgusted. What's next? A white Divine Nine Prez  That's my 08 rant for today.
P.S A black student being elected queen at a PWI isn't the same as the case here.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

[WileECoyote06]

This is what I posted on the other board.
Obama does not allow or encourage people to get caught up in his race.
He disagreed with Jimmy Carter when he attempted to call racism.
This queen could use her role to bring people together but it
appears she is trying to divide and get attention for herself. what a
career coup for her if she gets Obama to come to and speak on
inclusion. She'd be all over t.v. making it look like black college
students are racists.
she is on the divide and conquer plan.
I am disturbed when the figurehead seems to want to make
the student body look bad. I wonder what's really going on. I have
met too many white folks who went to HBCU and were well recieved and
elected to leadership to think she isn't exaggerating.I know that we're in the age of Obama, but I'm not really sure how I feel about this. On the surface, it bothers me a great deal. I feel that somethings, you just be left the way it is. I realize that's ignorant, and in some realms makes me no better than Joe "You Lie" Wilson. But come on... I'm coming from the perspective that for many many many many years, we had to create our OWN - because we couldn't be apart of what the majority had going on. So now, in the age of Hope and Change, I know we are supossed to embrace all and be down for all causes of goodness, and humanity. But , this just doesn't feel right to me. It just doesn't. I would by no means disrespect this young lady, and I do wish her well, but this has left a bad taste in my mouth, and I'm just disgusted. What's next? A white Divine Nine Prez  That's my 08 rant for today.
P.S A black student being elected queen at a PWI isn't the same as the case here.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

I disagree with you, on the bolded.  I do agree that she shouldn't have written Obama about it; however had the Hampton student body accepted her as their queen, she wouldn't have written the letter in the first place.  So we should first place blame with her detractors.

[J007]

I had the privilege of seeing an African-American female elected as Homecoming Queen at Vanderbilt University including a soror. The black students were united behind "their candidate" so they were a strong united black and so got the black graduate students to vote as well which was an untapped voting block. Perhaps, the voting block was diluted by the black students and the white female was able to get the majority due to that. But when you've got 4 black people and one white person, the black vote is split among all four, giving the one "minority" the majority.

 
Second, I think it is extremely tacky for her to write a letter to the President. If I was a student, I would not support her as the representative of my school not because she is white but because she embarrassed my school with her selfish act.
If the content of her letter is that she is being mistreated because she is white and she is Miss Hampton then yes that is an embarrassment.  If the content of her letter is more like Mr. President, I broke a color barrier just like you did then it would not be an embarrassment. It is my understanding that her letter is more like the former than the latter.

[YellowJacketPirateDog]

J007,

as I read her letter and the story about the situation, I too felt kinda on the skeptical side. I do agree with J007 on the comments made and I think you did a good job of presenting those points.  

Wiley,

would you be interested in expounding on why you think the "bolded" portion of J007's post is incorrect. I know its solely your opinion but I'm interested to know your thoughts about it.  In case you're wondering its because I agree with J007 on that too and would like to know you thoughts...

[WileECoyote06]

J007,

as I read her letter and the story about the situation, I too felt kinda on the skeptical side. I do agree with J007 on the comments made and I think you did a good job of presenting those points.  

Wiley,

would you be interested in expounding on why you think the "bolded" portion of J007's post is incorrect. I know its solely your opinion but I'm interested to know your thoughts about it.  In case you're wondering its because I agree with J007 on that too and would like to know you thoughts...

Because the black student who wins the pagaent/contest at a white school, whether by voting or from being selected deserves the accolades of winning and earned the right to represent her student body.   This young lady won the right to represent her student body (it wasn't a voting contest) through her performance in the pageant.

We can't have it both ways.   If the students had celebrated her win in the first place, she wouldn't have written the president about her situation. 

I wonder if the Hampton U guys, have a problem with having an Asian represent them as Mr. Hampton U?  It's not documented by the press at this time, but the majority of commentators from other threads who are affiliated with Hampton seem to be supportive of him.  I honestly wonder if this is catty people mad because their 'home-girl' didn't win?

I parallel this to my acceptance of white brothers into the fraternity.  I wonder why a white person would wish to join an organization that relies on so much African imagery, but I don't impede their progress and am supportive of them as aspirants and members.

[YellowJacketPirateDog]

I saw where someone who posted to this topic said she attends the Virginia Beach campus.  That person either is in the know or did a bit of research.  I say this to ask you if you too are in the know or did you look into the matter or are you simply stating your opinion to the matter?

Also, I agree with the statement that she won. I will be the first to tell you I always say to the people that refuse to call Barack Obama, Mr. President or President Obama, You can be mad all you want to, you can not like it you can refuse to address him as such but the man is YOUR president.  So I definitely feel that statement, Like it or not Hamptonians she is your current Ms. Hampton...

[J007]

Maybe she did it super sexy and wore something skimpy.  She appealed to the baser instinct of the men who were judging.

I think as campus queen, she hersefl should work to build relationships with the student body and show them she will represent them well. Telling the president they are being mean to her makes me think she doesn't care about the image of the school she represents.

A lot of us colored girls have gotten positions that the white folks did not think we were qualified or deserving of. We work to prove that we are valuable. We don't go calling NAACP or the ACLU telling them, some of our coworkers aren't letting us do our job.

White girls love to go cry while black women get the job done in any circumstance. this is even more offensive.
I think Obama needs to head to Chicago to assist the problems amongst those youth before travelling to Hampton to address her not being widely accepted

Yall can tell I'm feeling better from my accident and top it off, I didn't have to work today.

[Capler]

I don't know Cats, I see where you all are coming from on this but I also know the environment she is addressing. I have deep associations with black college campuses and I know that the type of bias she is speaking of do exist. I have heard HBCU college kids grumble big time about 'whites taking over their campus....., too many whites in such and such department...."  Why should we hate on this young lady only because she is airing our dirty laundry? We are living in a new world and black folk should be held to the same standards as white folk. Can you imagine the fallout that would occur on a pwc campus if white students did the same thing to us? "too many blacks on the sports teams."  I feel she is exposing one of the many double standard that exists with us black folk. We want our cake and eat it too, and then when someone calls us on it, we cry race. Damn, don't I sound like Sean Hannity today.

[WileECoyote06]

I saw where someone who posted to this topic said she attends the Virginia Beach campus.  That person either is in the know or did a bit of research.  I say this to ask you if you too are in the know or did you look into the matter or are you simply stating your opinion to the matter?

Also, I agree with the statement that she won. I will be the first to tell you I always say to the people that refuse to call Barack Obama, Mr. President or President Obama, You can be mad all you want to, you can not like it you can refuse to address him as such but the man is YOUR president.  So I definitely feel that statement, Like it or not Hamptonians she is your current Ms. Hampton...

Yellowjacket, that was me; this is a  hot-topic on blogs and message boards across the country.  So my opinion is pulled from researching the topic a little bit. 

[YellowJacketPirateDog]

dont ever put yourself in the same boat with hannity.  

Anyway, I don't know bout that one Cap, The white kids like for their teams to win and unless the school is a huge lacrosse, soccer or volleyball school they won't be complaining bout the brothers and sisters getting those wins lol

[YellowJacketPirateDog]

gotcha... I was just wondering, you seemed to know what you were talking bout...