Feel free to read the article first hand: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/1st-america-indian-descent-slammed-arab-article-1.1457133#ixzz2fZK7rI28
With the recent crowning of Nina Davuluri as the 2014 Miss America there came an avalanche of criticism, hate and skepticism. Social media accounts such as Twitter and Facebook were overflown with racial rants and individuals who were less then enthused about the Miss America pageant. In a recent article from Huffington Post featured here you see just a fraction of the negative attention and social media that was produced. Just by reading the few tweets mentioned in this particular article one must assume we have built a nation on the foundation of ignorance. I simply have to ask, What does it mean to be an American? Is being an American really based on skin color and race alone? I thought this great country has moved past these ideas of discrimination and racism. I constantly fear we are moving backwards as a nation when I see articles like this. What people seem to forget is that the United States is a Melting Pot--we are embedded with many different cultures and ethnic groups that come together to make up this wonderful country. I for one think this is something to be valued. I continue to ponder why all of this hate is being produced. Is Nina Davuluri less American because she is of Indian decent? If we look at her background and the facts presented in this I would think the answer is clearly no. At the age of four Nine moved to Oklahoma and then Michigan with her family before returning to New York about 6 years ago--this is common information anyone in the public can access. More important she identifies as an American saying, "I always viewed myself as first and foremost American." This is a woman who is beautiful and smart and represents both her American and Indian heritage. If you were to ask me I would say that our country needs more positive role models like this for our young women. Are the negative influencers within the American media that teach young girls to hate their bodies or condone extreme sexuality and violence really more American simply because they are considered natural born "authentic" white Americans? Nina had to spend her first press conference defending herself and addressing the various hateful things people were saying about her. I pray in years to come that being American can be based on values such as intelligence, determination and heart instead of being a constant conflict of skin color, race and culture.
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