Trace Holloway
Following the results of the 2005 Mr. and Miss Howard Pageant, I find that I am once again shocked, dismayed and ashamed. Year after year we pledge to restore the crown to its former legacy, yet year after year, campus politics pervades the pageant and clouds the true purpose of our campus homecoming court.
It is often mentioned that other HBCUs do not respect Howard University's campus kings and queens; however as one delves deeper into the selection process and the subsequent outcome, it is easy to see where the lack of respect originates. Our campus kings and queens are selected by a panel of judges who are assumed to be unbiased.
Yet as former graduates of Howard University and "former" members of existing prominent organizations on Howard's campus, there must be a slight inkling of allegiance to said organizations and its members, past and present.
It is simply not fair nor is it logical to have four out of five judges that are members of the same familial organization as one of the contestants in the pageant. The said family-like organization is not a state club, nor is it a community service organization with a revolving door of members that are nameless and plentiful.
It is a selective society that emphasizes a feeling of brotherhood among its members, a feeling that does not dissipate upon graduation.
Furthermore, it is neither fair nor is it logical for a member of another selective society, and powerful member of the Homecoming Steering Committee, to consistently converse with the judges throughout the duration of the show. Innocuous or not, this creates the wrong impression.
In hindsight, the outcome is not particularly surprising once one realizes that it's another case of Howard politics. How is it possible for someone to fumble repeatedly throughout a section that was worth as much as talent, evening wear and introduction combined yet recover with a cumulative score high enough to beat two consistent, high-quality performances?
The question and answer portion was worth twice what the talent section is worth---do the math. Moreover, how convenient is it for the preceding Mr. Howard to hand the crown to his fraternity brother, and for his girlfriend- reigning Miss Black and Gold- to score a complementary win for his selective society as well? It's all too cliché.
I personally am tired of the same people within a tiny minority operating an oligarchy, monopolizing positions of power and visibility on Howard's campus. Most Howard University students are NOT members of these organizations, yet one could not tell by looking around at the most visible positions on campus.
The pageant stands as the most recent reminder that even at a historically black college there is an "old boys club" aimed at keeping its own in power.
There is talent, intelligence and potential that exists within individuals who are not members of organizations with fancy calls and hand symbols. The pageant was an embarrassment not only to me as one of the many disgruntled audience members, but to the integrity of Howard University as one of the premier historically black colleges.
On the bright side however, the 2005 Mr. and Miss Howard Pageant was success in that it stayed true to its theme "Return to Royalty." Royalty typically consists of a monarchy in which the leader is chosen based on his or her relationship either with the preceding leader or those who are responsible for putting leaders into power, not on their actual worthiness and skill.
I only wish that I had known of this literal adherence to the theme before I purchased my ticket in expectation of a fair competition.
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