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- For the British musical band, see Miss Black America (band)
The Miss Black America pageant is a competition for young Black American women in areas such as speech, talent, style, and poise – essentially the black version of the popular Miss America pageant.
History
J. Morris Anderson first created and produced the Miss Black America Pageant on August 17, 1968, it was a local Philadelphia area pageant to protest the lack of black women in the Miss America pageant. In 1969, the Miss Black America became national with 42 U.S. states competing in New York City's Madison Square Garden. The winner was Miss Black New York.
The 1987 winner of the pageant was Leila McBride from Denver, Colorado.
Trivia
- The Jackson 5 made their first television debut performing during the 1969 paegeant.
- In 1971, Oprah Winfrey competed as Miss Black Tennessee.
- In 1991, boxer Mike Tyson was a judge in the pageant, and the following year was convicted of raping Miss Black Rhode Island, Desiree Washington. The winner of that pageant was future WCW Nitro Girl and current WWE diva Sharmell Sullivan.
- Marshaline Letcher, using her stage, was First Runner Up in the Miss Black New York State Pageant. Although she didn't win she has acted in television commercials, owned an acting school for children in NYC, has been featured on television news programs and in Essence Magazine. She is a playwright and actress. She holds advance degrees in Sociology and Education. In 2006 her plays The Green Duck and Blood Pressure were produced in short play festivals in New York and New Jersey.
See also
"Miss Black America"