Vanessa Williams, the first Black Miss USA, remembers the moment she realized racism was not a thing of the past...
From People
When Vanessa Williams made history becoming the first Black woman to be crowned Miss America at the 1984 competition, the then-20-year-old became the talk of the nation.
Unfortunately, all of what was said about her wasn't good talk. While many called her a role model and appreciated her groundbreaking win, Williams, now 61, says there were many others who sent racist comments and even death threats her way.
She recalls talk show host Johnny Carson making fun of her accomplishment. "When I had just won, one of my first appearances was in New York City, and I was staying at The Plaza," Williams tells PEOPLE in this week's cover story.
"I remember turning on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and his opening monologue was, 'Did you hear we have the first Black Miss America? Yeah. They didn't mention that Mr. T was one of the judges,'" recalls Williams. "I was like, 'Wow, that's telling.'"
She believes Carson was insinuating that "there had to be one Black judge in order for me to win," adding, "That's just me as a twenty-year-old, realizing, 'Oh, there is some stuff that's still racist and prejudiced and tinged with attitude and judgment.'"
32 comments:
Ummm ok Vanessa
Yawnnnnnnn
I like Vanessa, but how can you be the first Black anything and not know that racism still exists?
Girl bye! No way you went 20 years without knowing racism. Next!
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They did her dirty. As light as she is. She was too black to be Miss America. Then forced her to step down. I didn't realize she was only 20.
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Did they really do her dirty though? If she signed a contract and it forbids the Miss America winner from having past nekkid photos, then thats on her. She doesnt get a pass because she's Blk.
It’s some trolls in these comments
Well now it’s coming to light. Only the young and dumb would think no racism. I bet because she was lite, bright, and damn near white she thought they would make an exception. Wrong.
No one is asking for a pass, but surely she wasn't the first beauty contestant to have broken that rule. Bob Guccione was a sleeze ball with a sleezy magazine who wanted to make money and get more clout. And he did it at the expense of Vanessa.
"No one is asking for a pass, but surely she wasn't the first beauty contestant to have broken that rule."
Unless you can name a WINNER that had explicit pics and was allowed to keep the crown, your point is invalid...
She became a stronger woman after this experience. VW still accomplished successes after that slime ball exposed her pictures.
Her upbringing may have formed her opinion.
Have you seen those pictures??? The Miss America pageant might have been racist but racism is not why they dumped her. I still can't figure out why she was spreadeagled in front of a camera. Middle class girls didn't do that back then.
Not really @8:31. They would've covered up the pics and situation for others, just not her.
My point is not invalid. I don't need proof for a hypothesis. My suggestion is based on my knowledge of racism in this country and how Black people, particularly Black women, are held to a higher standard than others.
945
That's an ASSumption, you don't know what they would have done. You sound like somebody who breaks the rules then tries to gaslight others for your mistakes. I wouldnt be shocked if you had massive student loan debt.
*yawn* A 40 year old N-wake-up call.
Projection much 9:45? Your post is oddly specific...
corrected - Projection much 10:02? Your post is oddly specific...
Big ups to Mr T! Always been a real one
I wasn’t as sheltered. My first wake up call was at the tender age of 15. And that was in NYC! Then it happened again at 17 (2x) and at 24 with NYPD. Last one was the last straw I needed to leave NY, and I never looked back!
What happened to her in the 1980s would never happen today. She took artistic photos that were of a BDSM theme. No proof that she was doing anything other than taking pictures. They wanted a reason to humiliate and disrespect her. Today, the bar is so low, what happened back then would never have happened today. And, yes, blacks can live their entire lives and never experience racism. Happy people don't encounter demons all that often.
BeyoncΓ© said racism ended when Obama became the 1st black (biracial) president. *Kanye shrug*
Beyonce.
Living rent free in your brain since 2002.
Where did she say that was her first experience of racism? And yes they did her dirty. Why was she the first black Miss America anyway? And they choose the lightest black woman ever. Then pretend she's some immoral person. When thise pageants ain't nothing but hoe shows anyway. Don't tell me all the previous white contestants were saints. Whether they took a picture or not. Double standard for is. Anyone who disagrees is ignorant and worst than unfunny Carson and likes. Now everybody spread eagle. She was ahead of her time.
What about those 'pics' honey.
Tells more about U than we will ever know
Nessa put her big hair bush all on camera and got dumped on because of it. Doing that photo shoot was a stupid move on her part in the first place and she paid the price. And what's crazy is it's not like she had those pictures taken decades before and somebody dug them up. She was only 20 and those pics were fresh. I think she was banking on light-skin privilege or some sort of secret handshake agreement and it didn't work out for her. I still like her comeback though. She showed them (literally) and got the last laugh.
What if it was all a humiliation ritual?
Vanessa was the FIRST blk person to win the somewhat raycist competition. What if the organizers came to her before the contest and said "we can rig the contest so you'd win but you have to agree to take these photos and sign a contract to never discuss it" Hmmmm maybe I am reaching but that industry is truly sick. You never know.
^ I wouldn't doubt it at all. I've heard similar about the actors in sc-i-entology
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