Ole Miss crowns first African-American homecoming queen!
Fifty-years ago Courtney Roxanne Pearson would not have been allowed to enroll at the University of Mississippi because she was black let alone think of becoming the first African-American homecoming queen of Ole Miss.
But today (Saturday, October 13) the 21-year-old senior English education student from Memphis is preparing for her historic crowning during the halftime ceremonies when Ole Miss faces off against Auburn University at the university football stadium.
'I am still in shock, but I am definitely very excited,' said Pearson who beat Ashleigh Davis for the chance to wear the crown 1,477 votes to 1,387 in a victory for the University of Mississippi's reputation in race relations.
'It couldn't have come at a better time,' added Pearson, who considers her victory a landmark for Ole Miss which commemorated the 50th anniversary of the admission of James Meredith, their first African-American student, which set off rioting at the southern college in 1962.
Aware of her unique position, Pearson wants to push other African-Americans to believe in themselves. 'I feel like it's an inspiration for others to be like, there's nothing that can hold me back, not my race, not my greekness, or my non-greekness - whatever it is that I want to do, I can do it,' said Pearson.
Reflecting on the fact that 50-years ago she would have been kept out of Ole Miss because of segregation, Pearson was clear what her homecoming queen victory means.
'Now the students are saying ‘Not only do we want you to attend, we want you to represent us at a whole and go and show the whole world what we're about and what we represent,' said Pearson.
Pearson is pleased that her place in Ole Miss history is another step upon which future minority students can build. 'I hope that after Homecoming 2012 everyone gives Ole Miss the respect it deserves and that this election inspires someone else to follow their dreams,' said Pearson.
http://www.wmctv.com/story/19805498/ole-miss-crowns-first-african-american-homecoming-queen?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=7835803
If video link doesn't work, go to the web site at Source 1 for the video interview with Ms. Pearson.
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Source 1: http://www.wmctv.com/story/19805498/ole-miss-crowns-first-african-american-homecoming-queen
Source 2 has more photos of Courtney Pearson, plus a photo of the runner-up: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2217218/Ole-Miss-crowns-African-American-homecoming-queen--50-years-university-ended-segregation.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
I heard about this story on the Joe Madison radio show this morning and thought this was a positive story until I happened to read some of the comments. Please avoid the comments!