The Antelope Valley Times

Your community. Your issues. Your news.

Contestants sought for 3rd annual Miss Black AV

by •

[Contributed photo] 2014 Miss Black AV court – Miss Briana Johnson, Junior Miss Akungbe Obazee, Young Miss Simone Zulu, and Little Miss Harmony Ayanna Crossland.
[Contributed photo] 2014 Miss Black AV court – Miss Briana Johnson, Junior Miss Akungbe Obazee, Young Miss Simone Zulu, and Little Miss Harmony Ayanna Crossland.
PALMDALE – Contestants are being sought to compete in the third annual Miss Black AV pageant, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 8.

The event is presented by Antelope Valley Pageants, and this year’s theme is “Our History in Music,” according to Pageant Coordinator Waunette Cullors.

“Some may ask, ‘Why have a pageant that highlights African-American culture?’ It’s all part of being proud and sharing the rich culture of our ancestries with our community within the Antelope Valley,” Cullors stated. “The ladies focus on culture, history, education and community during the pageant experience and during their reign.”

The third annual Miss Black AV pageant is open to young ladies between the ages of 4 and 18 who live in the Antelope Valley and have a willingness to promote African-American culture and mentor youth, according to Cullors.

Contestants will receive lessons, speech coaching and the opportunity to participate in parades. They’ll also receive a trophy and sash and gain a memorable experience, Cullors stated.

The application fee is $30, and contestant applications must be received by Thursday, July 2.

For more information, contact Antelope Valley Pageants at 661-202-4484 or email AVPageant@gmail.com.

–

39 comments for "Contestants sought for 3rd annual Miss Black AV"

  1. My daughter is white but identifies as black due to the generous benefits gifted to minorities. It’s she able to compete?

    • Which benefits is she interested in?

      Getting run out of her home by armed thugs at the behest of the mayor?

      Being intimidated in the streets by police officers?

      Being routinely denied due process of law?

      Having racist thugs shoot her in churches?

      You call yourself confused, and apparently it runs in the family.

  2. There is no problem with pride of any type, as long as it does not include mistreatment or poor judgement placed upon others who are not of the same race. All people should be proud of their culture, white people included. The problem is that inherently in most pageants is the idea that beauty is judged on the basis of European features. Especially in the AV, most pageants base the ‘looks/appearance’ portion of the competition with a foundation of European features/behaviors. As a former AV Pageant Girl, who was privy to behind the scenes information, on more than one occasion, there were very beautiful, intelligent, articulate, and community connected young ladies in the competitions, yet for many, MANY years, the ‘farm girl’ or ‘American girl next door’ would win…..even when the ladies of color silenced rooms of people with their talent, community service, and articulate in answering questions posed to them. If there was a Miss White AV, I would expect to see an acceptance of all applicants, but also a definition of ‘white’ as well (which may pose a difficult predicament because many white people can’t agree on that one.), I would also expect that the Pageant should share cultural aspects of European culture (wherever that may be for the particular contestant). Perhaps, this may help to empower those who feel that being white means that there is no culture and to allow them to be able to articulate what culture is versus just a ‘white identity’ and allow for them to bridge the gap and be able to honor and recognize persons who do not share their culture. It may actually be a positive thing for some. The other pageants should also remain which do not differentiate. The main issue is that many pageants, whether they say it or not, are already “Miss White AV” pageants.

  4. why is it that everyone rushes to make negative comments? if its for Hispanics or blacks hell looses free instead of being racist and making stupid comments just let these contestants enjoy this boring av have some motivation for some.

    • Fine. Let there be a Miss Caucasian AV pageant. Even white people need motivation and enjoyment every now and then.
      But…

      Anything just white or Caucasian is racist. Just think of the lawsuits from the NAACP and the ACLU.

  5. As time progress it seems that to end racism everyone needs to take a stand. I should think by now the AV should be tired of talking about racism and trying to form a community. All pageants need to be combined into one Miss AV Valley Pageant to represent the growing community of the Valley. Everyone may not like it but the AV has become more diverse and the wind of change is every day. Everyone blames the Mayor but we as a community voted him into office. Everyone should take a step back and ask yourself… IF I WERE BLIND WOULD I SEE SKIN COLOR? Of course you can’t so if you dislike someone make sure it’s for the right reason… So the Pageants should be a community foundation to bring the community together not separate. One Miss AV pageant and all participates can still show case their heritage and talent. I would even volunteer my time for the board.

    • We have a combined pageant. It is judged based on standards of beauty that are deeply engrained in most people that, like it or not, do lead to a “most European look wins” result. I have worked on purging my dad’s bigotry from my system for fifty years, and even so I will admit I have a bias towards the “Swedish Bikini Team.” That’s a reality of “beauty pageants” that we may NEVER be able to change.

      You are absolutely right that to end racism, or at least to reduce the damage that it does, does require that people take a stand. They need to take a stand not only when they feel slighted, like all the white folks who are crying about this pageant are doing, but when they see things cutting their way…as in I hope everyone crying about this pageant gives up their “oh the DOJ is just picking on us and Rex and the LACSD running people of color out of their homes is no big deal” positions.

  6. I’m not surprised about the controversy that the readers have stirred up. It’s ridiculous.

  7. I saw this and I have a question. My daughter is mixed but has a very light complexion…would she not be able to run? I’m not trying to be funny asking, I just ask because I was interested.

  8. As long as a white girl feels in her heart that she is black, she should be able to be a contestant in the Ms. Black AV beauty contest. After all, Rachel Dolezal is also black. She has said so repeatedly and the NAACP backs her up on this point.

    • Nope, they are not backing up her claim of “race”, they are standing behind her on her work and advocacy record, which really is as it should be. SHe’s not black, she just feels culturally closer to afro-american culture, and her life reflects that culture. She has exaggerated the truth, and that’s what has rubbed many wrong.

      SOURCE: http://www.wsj.com/articles/naacp-chapter-leaders-racial-identity-questioned-1434130826

      “In statement dated Friday on the NAACP website, the national organization said it supported Ms. Dolezal.

      “One’s racial identity is not a qualifying criteria or disqualifying standard for NAACP leadership. The NAACP Alaska-Oregon-Washington State Conference stands behind Ms. Dolezal’s advocacy record,” it read.”

      Just so you know, technically, she isn’t black in any biological sense.

  9. I think it is awful to teach our children that skin color is separated when it comes to beauty pageants, my white daughter will be entering this beauty pageant. she will be learning about African American culture. she will be promoting a stop to racism. Hopefully all this segregation will stop….If not then I guess my daughter will be turned away and will will just be on the news making a scene. its about time the white people start standing up for whats right too

    • I suspect from what the article says that she will be welcomed.

      If you want to get on the news making a scene against racism with her though the LACSD and the mayor of Lancaster provide ample opportunities, always have. I agree, It is about time the white people started standing up for what’s right. Hope to see you out there!

    • nope she is not black there for she cant compete sorry its not called a white beauty pageant

      • Hi Lilian…Looked at the pageant rules, available on the internet. Took less than a minute to find out that you are wrong. Why do people post obvious nonsense?

  10. Personally, I think this is amazing. There’s nothing that prohibits various races from participating. I only see an age criteria and a requirement to promote African American history. I think it’s wonderful to see an event in our community that encourages young women to be proud of who they are and where they come from. In a community that overwhelmingly marginalizes minorities, it’s refreshing to see something positive being done for these ladies. Best of luck to the participants.

  11. It is unfortunate that children these days still are being taught to segregate because of the color of their skin. COME ON PARENTS!

  12. Research shows…. It has been an issue since civil rights were implied.

    imo…Bottom line= if any form of public entertainment, excludes a person from applying due to the person’s race(in America), then, by definition, there is a definite bias.

  13. Can these kids just enjoy themselves…..it just an program…….as stated there are contest for everyone………

  14. I find it interesting how many people are popping up who are so worried about racial equality when it comes to beauty pageants, when there seem to be so few who support the DOJ cracking down on Rex and his thugs. Are beauty pageants really more important than justice? Or are you people just the typical AV “racism is fine as long as I get to be on top” white supremacists?

    • Tim Scott, you’re right, this is a great example of people acting petty over trivial things. But I can’t help but ask you a question. What is justice? Can you define it? It’s something people have been trying to define for thousands of years. Philosophically, justice is an abstract concept. Do we just know it when we see it? Is it something different to everyone?

      • Justice is tough to recognize…but the easier approach is to recognize injustice. If you systematically remove injustice you eventually reach justice.

        That’s why this was such a great example. The people who are so quick to feel slighted over a “racist” pageant are positioning themselves where they can’t avoid seeing the gross racial injustices working against our valley when they were pointed out, even though they may have been ignoring them for years.

        The DOJ may be able to fix our sheriff’s department for us, but only the voters can fix racist Rex.

  15. Kewl.. So when is the next miss white AV pageant going to happen? Or would that be considered racist? I guess a white infants only clinic would be racist too.

  16. Can my Caucasian daughter compete? Because there is no pageant specifically for our young Euro-American ladies to showcase them “being proud and sharing the rich culture of our ancestries with our community within the Antelope Valley”. That would be labeled racist and any promoters or participants would be called horrible names. Things that make you go hmmmmm……

    • Actually there is a pageant that your daughter can compete in. You’re so focused on trying to point out the racism you are so desperately trying to find that you didn’t even do the research to see if it truly existed. It’s called the Miss AV pageant. You can even read the article that this very same paper did on it. Be blessed.

      • While I is true that his daughter could compete in the Miss AV Pageant his daughter could not compete in the Black Miss AV Pageant. That in itself is racist. The black people complain when they are excluded from a pageant, the white people can also complain when they are not allowed in a pageant.

        • Actually black people complain when they are denied housing, or beaten by badge wielding thugs, or kidnapped and held in the back seat of police cars. Not that beauty pageant participation is not on the same level…oh…wait…beauty pageant participation is not only not on the same level, it isn’t even on the same planet.

      • Actually the Miss AV pageant is open to EVERY GIRL ANY RACE as long as they are in the age range. This really does show how “whitey” is pushed and slapped in the face in todays world. One pageant FOR EVERYONE TO COMPETE TOGETHER. I don’t believe that European looks dominant BS for one minute. I’ve seen plenty of non European decent women win pageants! If it said Miss White AV heads would be rolling! Such crap. If ya’ll don’t want racism, please stop promoting it.

    • You’re not making any sense. You want to know if your daughter can compete, yet you state “because there is no pageant specifically for our young Euro-American ladies to showcase them “being proud and sharing the rich culture…'” So then why would your daughter want to compete in something highlighting AA culture when you appear to desire the opposite? Exactly! Now take your race baiting somewhere else. Smh!

    • What racism? Please tell me whose rights are being denied and trampled by celebrating the beauty of AA girls and their rich culture? Absolutely no one! FOH!! Get out of your feelings and take that whining somewhere else.

    • What racism? They have pageants for whites, and hispanics as well. Do your research before commenting.

      • What racism? pageants for just whites are racist. Pageants for just Latinas are racist. And then…. Eh, forget it, something tells me you don’t have the integrity to admit it. Either way, I don’t care, individuals are allowed to be as racist as they want as far as I’m concerned. Let racists have their racist pageants, who cares!

      • There are no pageants for just whites, that would be racist.
        Pageants for just Hispanics and Blacks is not racist.

        That’s the way society is today, deal with it.

        • That’s just the narrative those who have control of the propaganda machine would like you to believe. Everybody knows in their heart that something that only includes blacks or Latinos is every bit as racist as those that exclude all but whites. Anyone who can pretend they believe otherwise is being disingenuous and must have an extreme amount of hate in their heart that lets them justify such blatant hypocrisy.