After competing against nine African-American contestants, Hampton University has crowned its first white Miss Hampton University, Nikole Churchill. Being that Hampton is an historically black university whose primary focus is directed towards motivating the African-American population, shouldn't they have re-thought that crowning?

The Spartan Echo

Elizabeth Reed

Now, with that said, why has Hampton University decided to crown their first caucasian Miss HU? Did they ask the student body on their take before making such a decision? Is this Hampton University's way of marketing themselves? In other words, is this the way that Hampton University has decided to show they have steered away from the African- American principles upon which it was founded in efforts to be accepted by a wider array of prospective students?

If this has been done in an effort to entice prospective students and to increase the yearly profit, I think HU needs to rethink their advertising tactics because this one has not gained much respect, nor will it be beneficial in the long run. It is the job of both the students and faculty members to keep in mind and uplift the positive image of African Americans within the school's conduct and sponsored activities.

And why white? The first time HU has decided to reach out to give others a chance, it so conveniently narrows down to a white candidate. It's one thing to be a white candidate for this type of contest at a culturally diverse university, but why at an HBCU? This is the person that is going to be the visual representation of the HBCU Hampton University.

This is a contradictory representation that will also be a confusing one. If I didn't know anything about Hampton University, other than that it was an HBCU, and when visiting the school's website I see a caucasian Miss HU, I would be confused. How can the student body, consisting mainly of African-Americans, relate to someone who does not look like them and probably has not experienced what most African-Americans have?

HBCUs are one of the many things our elders fought for and I know with this crowning they are turning in their graves.

As a student at Norfolk State University, an HBCU, I can honestly say that I disagree with Miss Churchill's appointment. From the blogs I have read, I can see that many HU students aren't happy either. I came to an HBCU to be in an environment that upholds the black community while also being receptive to other ethnicities. Being a resident on campus here at NSU, I am able to see the growing multicultural population and can honestly say that I believe it's wonderful. It, in turn, helps diminish the negative racial stereotypes that NSU has had over the years.

However, on the other side of the spectrum, I believe that no matter how mixed the NSU population will become, African-American achievement should be encouraged and put first above all ethnicities because, as I stated before, that was the mission upon which HBCUs were founded.

I say that to reiterate this: HBCUs are made to uphold black achievement. There is nothing wrong with having a caucasian female, or any other individual of any ethnicity, representing your school. However, there is certain criteria that need to be evaluated before these decisions are made. In this instance, the major criteria up for re-evaluation is the school's history. It is inappropriate for a white female to represent an African American school. If Hampton University wants this person to be the image of their school, then maybe they should reconsider whether they want to be categorized as an HBCU. It's just like when scholarships are open to certain races and not others. It is not racist, it's just the evaluative criteria used to uphold certain ethnic achievement.

This causes one to ponder: What exactly categorizes a university as an HBCU? How do you define an HBCU? Should we do away with the title HBCU totally to eliminate further confusion?

Elizabeth Reed writes for The Spartan Echo, the Norfolk State University student newspaper, which originally published this article.

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