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Former Miss Black Ohio On The Relevance Of A Black Beauty Pageant today

When asked the relevance of a Black Beauty Pageant, former Miss Black Ohio, Allison Knox had a mic drop moment.

Why does race always have to be an issue? Why must there be a Miss BLACK pageant? Why must you all have separate schools (HBCUs)? Isn't that exclusion or a form of racism? Why can't you all just get over slavery, it happened so long ago? . Why? Because after my ancestors were brought over unwillingly to a foreign place, abused, attacked, stripped of their identity, split from their families, their descendants still continue to struggle finding a place in America. Why? Because I see more black women in the media publicly exploited or playing to a certain overt narrative than professional, successful, Godly black women. Why? Because the same way we fight for equal rights with women (feminism), the LGBTQ community, and more, POC continue be marginalized the same opportunities day, after day. Why? Because the color of my skin creates a form of rhetoric that exists to incite fear and say I'm not worthy, I'm less than, and I don't deserve the same success as you. Why? Because the ideologies of naziism are still embraced today. Why? Because in 2019 we still have to say, "the first black president," "the first black senator of...," "the first black ballerina,". Why? Because we've reached a point in time where we must stop fluffing over race issues in America. Racism is real and it's an ideology that is rooted in hate. No matter how you try to put it, it's indefensible and a domestic form of terrorism for those who experience it. , Yes, I'm part of a BLACK pageant system because of these things. I've learned through this process to fully love me - my culture, my skin, my people, my natural curly black hair, the natural curves of my body. I will no longer conform to societal pressures to be something I am not and create self hate. I felt myself being pulled in that direction to be accepted by others, and it completely brought me out of my natural element. I can walk with my head held high, and not have to worry about if I am pleasing to you.

Miss Black USA CEO was recently interviewed by HuffPost Black Voices on the power of the Black Beauty Pageant and why she founded Miss Black USA. Read article here.

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