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Blair Sills
Junior
English
Cedar Brook, NJ
Meleah White
Junior
Psychology (CAU)
Springfield, MA
Freddie Craig
Soph omore
Political science
Pittsh ur gh,PA
Wesley Franklin
MarieGakrielle Jones
Junior
Sopkomore
Ckemistry
Ckemistry (Spelman)
Greenskoro, NC
Cleveland Heigkts, OH
“I think it’s a wonderful and
great [event], hut, yes, it’s
sexist."
“I don’t think it’s sexist
personally because in certain
scenes, you see equal amounts
of flesh [f rom men and
women], if it was one sex
being exploited, then it would
be sexist.”
“I don’t think so. if they
choose to be in it, they choose
to he in it. You can’t make
decisions for people.”
“No, because sexist means
showing favoritism to or
exploiting one gender. if the
show is showing equal
amounts of flesh/nudity of
both genders, then there is no
favoritism.
“I think that the fashion show
is sexist because it exploits
women. Not even the fashion
show itself, more so the
advertisements. It’s degrading
and I feel that real women
would not participate in such
events.”
Miss Maroon & White pageant: An exercise in sexism
By Heather Thompson
Guest Commentary
Perhaps I just expect too
much. However, it seems to
me that as conscious, educated
African Americans,
we should be taking
bold steps toward
creating a world for
ourselves which is
free of the rank
stench of sexism.
The Miss
Maroon & White
pageant reeks of it
and I think it is time
we clear the air.
Webster's New
College Dictionary
defines pageant as "an
elaborate public dramatic
presentation" and as "a showy
display."
If the men of Morehouse
were using this definition to
measure the success of the
pageant, I would contend that
they have succeeded —
resoundingly.
I have seen enough
sequins and attempts at poise
and comportment during the
course of the pageants to last
a lifetime.
However, if the college is
seeking to redefine the ways in
which it views and treats
women, it has failed —
miserably.
Contrary to popular belief,
this is not an event that honors
women. It is simply the
grandest display of relegating
women to being trophies. And
every year young women from
Spelman College compete
against each other to win the
right to be top mantle piece.
They put on their finery
and make-up, hoping and
praying that they will have
what it takes to impress the
men of Morehouse enough to
garner their votes.
The air is filled with
nervous trepidation as these
women put it all on the line in
an attempt to knock the
collective socks off
Morehouse.
The entire process harks
back to the days when African
Americans were required to
parade on auction blocks for
perspective slave buyers. It is
inarguable that by sponsoring
this pageant, Morehouse
College is directly
aiding in the
subjugation of
women.
Invariably,
this column will
raise questions
about the validity
of the Miss
Spelman pageant.
However, the two
events and the
roles of the
women who win
them differ in several key
ways.
A contestant in the Miss
Spelman competition
becomes a full-fledged
member of the Spelman
Student Government
Association upon winning.
That means she assumes the
same responsibilities as all
other elected student leaders
on campus. These
requirements are clearly
defined in the Spelman
College handbook, and the
winner is required to initiate
a yearlong community service
project in order to retain her
title.
None of this can be said
about Miss Maroon & White.
This is not an attempt to
diminish the community
service projects some of the
past queens have undertaken.
It is to highlight the fact that
nowhere in any literature that
Morehouse makes available to
the general public is the role
of Miss Maroon & White
defined.
Would I be hasty in
concluding that the role of
Miss Maroon & White, then, is
to be pretty and poised but not
empowered?
Thompson is a senior studio art
major at Spelman College. After
graduation, she plans to join the
Peace Corps.
Michael Colyar will make
., AIDS
come
concert,
The
comedian's
thought-
humor both
tickles the
bone
the mind, and
has been
described as
"conscience
comedy.'
The
concert, to be
held in King
Chapel at 8
p.m., will be
emceed by
alumnus Ken
Rye and
include a
by Sirius B.
Colyar is
best known for
h i s
appearances
on "Showtime at the Apollo;*'
It is simply the grandest display of
relegating women to being trophies. And
every year young women from Spelman
College compete against each other to win
the right to be top mantle piece.
