There’s no lack of support for the new Miss America Nina Davuluri two days after being crowned for 2014. When social media reactions were filled with racist tweets and condescending remarks, Nina found immediate support from people on YouTube and op-eds on CNN.
Roxanne Jones reminded any potential haters that the 2014 Miss New York wasn’t the first or last woman of color to be crowned Miss America:
“You are not the first woman of color to take the crown. It was 30 years ago that Vanessa Williams became the first black Miss America. Seven other black women and one Asian woman have won since then. And most went on to successful careers.
But whenever this happens, those pesky bigots climb out of their caves to rant and rave and spew their ignorance about why it’s not fair. Ignore them.”
Anna Johns, on an op-ed for NPR, wrote specifically about those on Twitter who would go on to be shamed via Buzzfeed after deleting their tweets:
“It was exactly that sort of pushback that led to many of the most offensive tweets being deleted; there is a growing awareness that racist comments impulsively tweeted are likely to be challenged. Most people don’t enjoy being shamed, which is what happened as the worst tweets were favorited and retweeted in a bid to expose those who would flaunt their ignorance.”
Meanwhile Davuluri is already hitting the airwaves, teaching Kelly and Michael how to dance:
along with her full interview: