Star Objects Only to Swimsuit Part of Miss Black America Pageant in KC

August 18, 2018111

There are many concerns one could voice about a Miss Black America pageant in the year 2018, but the editors of the Kansas City Star chose to fret about the least significant among them, the swimsuit competition.

“Fifty years after its inception, Miss Black America still sets the standard for women of color who have style, grace and strength,” write the Star editors ever so delicately. “Simply forsaking the swimsuit competition could bring the event in line with the times and propel the organization to its next half-century celebrating smart, strong women of color.”

In 1983, Vanessa Williams became the first African American to win the Miss America contest.

In the pageant, which raps up Saturday night at the Gem Theater, the swimsuit competition is one of three, the other two being talent and “projection from a question-and-answer session.”

The Star editors were suggesting that pageant organizers follow the lead of the Miss America organizers who last month–in a move sure not to help ratings–announced the end of both of its swimsuit and evening gown competitions.

Aleta Anderson, executive producer of Miss Black America, told the Star to take a hike. “Our programming is related to black identity and culture,” Anderson said. “We are going to have the most confident, loving-myself-some-me, cultural swimsuit competitions and presentations Kansas City has ever seen.”

There were much better questions the Star could have asked. For instance, why is it that 35 years after Vanessa Williams became the first African American to win the Miss America contest do black leaders feel obliged to run their own contest?

Why is it that after all their pious editorials about diversity and inclusivity do the Star editors, all quibbles about sexism aside, celebrate an event that excludes all other races, creeds, and colors? Is the event even legal?

Finally, how is it the editors can fret so hysterically about an imagined resurgence of white nationalism when confronted by an event that is an open celebration of black nationalism? Do they think readers fail to notice the double standard?

The swimsuit competition is the one universal element in an otherwise separatist pageant, but it is the one element the Star wants rooted out.

https://sentinelksmo.org/star-objects-only-swimsuit-part-miss-black-america-pageant-in-kc/