After wasting time scrolling and retweeting numerous, mostly meaningless tweets on Twitter for about an hour and a half, I stumbled on a tweet that caught my attention.
“Just cause Miss USA black don’t mean the country’s problems are solved.”
This tweet appeared on my newsfeed just hours after Miss USA 2016, Deshauna Barber, was announced on June 5.
And I agree.
Let’s not get it twisted. Barber has great qualities and an inspiring story.
The 26-year-old Miss District of Columbia USA, is an Army Reserve officer and IT analyst, has a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s in management information systems, and is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
If that’s not impressive, I don’t know what is.
Barber’s platform is great, too. According to Barber’s profile on the Miss Universe Website, Barber is focusing on “PTSD treatment for soldiers returning from deployment and suicide prevention in the Armed Forces.”
But the last thing written about the former Miss USA, Miss Oklahoma Olivia Jordan was, well, when she won — until she gave up the crown on Sunday to an intelligent, talented black woman.
Nonetheless, unemployment and homelessness will still be a problem, budgets cuts will still be made to higher education, crime and violence will still plague mostly poverty stricken neighborhoods, and the political candidates for the presidency will still be limited and unfavorable.
Barber will inspire many young girls to push the limits, to become more confident in who they are and to speak up against sexism, racism and colorism. Little girls and young women will line up to be in pageants. They’ll see them in a new light — less about the glitz and glam of it all, though getting all dressed up can make a girl feel beautiful, but more about the difference they’ll be capable of making throughout the process.
It’s a great step for the African-American community as well — to gain one more representative in a world that’s still struggling for equality.
As a participant in a small pageant once, I didn’t see many African Americans gracing the stage, though it’s becoming more and more common. Barber has undoubtedly opened the door wider to allow more young girls, especially little brown and black girls, to step out of their comfort zones and seize the opportunity. Barber shows that anything is possible.
I don’t believe, however, that this win will make the dent needed to cause a major shift in racial, political or social issues. In this day and age, especially with new technology and different social media platforms, Miss USA will all but be forgotten within the next month.
Jourdan Riley is a 21-year-old mass communications senior from New Orleans, Louisiana.
Miss USA 2016 Deshauna Barber, left, is interviewed by co-hosts Ainsley Earhardt and Steve Doocy on the "Fox & friends" television program in New York, Wednesday, June 8, 2016. The newly crowned Miss USA is an Army officer from the District of Columbia. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
