Have you ever heard of Miss Black America?

[richardmurray]

What do you think of a beauty contest only for Black Women in the USA that has existed since the 1968?

 

[ProfD]

I've heard of Miss Black America but I have no idea of what she actually does.

[Pioneer1]

14 hours ago, richardmurray said:

What do you think of a beauty contest only for Black Women in the USA that has existed since the 1968?

 

Lol....
Are you talking about Jet magazine's Beauty Of The Week?

 

[richardmurray]

@ProfD @Pioneer1 

For more information please view and read the following

 

https://www.missblackamerica.com/

from 1968, here are some recent winners

If you know any black women, please share this with them, please

 

if you have questions you can contact them?

https://www.missblackamerica.com/contact

 

if you want to help

https://www.missblackamerica.com/donations

 

@Troy they have an author's expos,  I don't have the money but I imagine you do. 

https://www.missblackamerica.com/author-s-expo-page

pdf info

https://a60cd4c2-9ac1-4f86-909b-8059577f3c6a.filesusr.com/ugd/5fe1f0_8f6b3a2fa6bd47dfb5359bf756393475.pdf

 

Sponsorship form

https://www.missblackamerica.com/sop-delegate-sponsorship

 

Are you the next Miss Black America?

Registration Now Open- Click The Following https://www.missblackamerica.com/pageant-registry

Little Miss Black America (7-12)
Miss Black America Teen (13-16)
Miss Black America (17-29)
Ms. Black America (29-54)
Senior Miss Black America (55 and Over).
All Age Groups, All Ages,
Register Today
Queens from seven (7) years old and over.

 

REGISTRATION DETAILS- no excuse for black dos women to enter

Pageant Registration

All Across the World We Are Beautiful!
You can be a Contestant in the next MBA Pageant TV Special! 

Are you between the age of 17-29?

Or, are you a Miss Black America Teen between the ages of 13 -16?

A Little Miss Black America between the ages of 7-12?  

Or a Senior Miss Black America who is 55+?

Complete the form at the link below

https://www.missblackamerica.com/pageant-registry

*Adults 17-29 Must be a High School Graduate or its Equivalent at the time of the National Pageant, MBA Teens must be Middle or High School students*

 

Miss Black America Pageant Positivity Cruise - February 14th, through February 22nd, 2026

 

[Pioneer1]

Not to take this thread in another direction but............

Since we're on the subject of Black women and beauty pageants, the issue of colorism should be addressed.
We need to make sure the Black women who engage in and especially those who win these contests should actually be BLACK.
 

Too often you have non-Black and mixed people who "back door" their way into these events and end up being hoisted over and on top of the actual Black participants.
This is nothing but a product of self-hatred.
Looking at a woman who is obviously not Black or looks like she's almost White...and calling HER "the most beautiful" woman in the community.

One of my biggest problems with Beyonce wasn't Beyonce herself...but how she was often glorified as a symbol of "Black" female beauty.
Whenever the subject of comparing female celebrities by race, Whites and Latinos would promote the women they thought were the most beautiful but when it came to Black people.....a lot of bruthaz would promote women like Beyonce or Halle Berry back in the day.
Women who obviously weren't Black.

A lot of pro-FBA podcasters are promoting lightskinned women as "ideal" models for who an FBA is or what an FBA looks like.

They're pushing Beyonce and Angel Reese.

 

[richardmurray]

@Pioneer1

11 minutes ago, Pioneer1 said:

Not to take this thread in another direction but............

From the photos i have seen every winner of the Miss Black America pageant has been a black woman of medium to dark brown skin. Now I haven't seen photos of every winner. I haven't seen photos of every contestant. 

But the direction you have taken this post about uplifting a black owned beauty pageant has many questions, you didn't provide answers for when you shifted directions.

1.  How do you define actual Black ? You mentioned "actual Black" but don't give a clear definition of how can be determined actual Black. Moreover why should the operators of Miss Black America adhere to such a definition? 

For example, if a woman with with two parents from india born in NYC with skin asians will call very dark, which is equivalent to what people in the USA call black, which is common among many Indian people, wants to run for Miss Black America, does she fit what you mean by Black?  From a phenotypical perspective, said example woman is Black. 

Here are three images of kalo or black , indian females, older woman, young woman, child. All three are black. I don't know if habshi, which is the equivalent to Descended of Enslaved. Cause some ancestral indian people are black. Like some ancestral statian people, native americans, are black. Native Americans from southern tribes, the caribbean, are phenotypically black and not african.  So I know you know your thoughts and definitions but you have to display them. If for no other reason it makes the multilog easier, unless you want to argue. 

 

2. How do you define not-black or mixed?  You mentioned " non-Black and mixed people" but don't give a clear definition to either term. Is mixed by phenotype, skin color ? is mixed by phenotype of ancestors? If mixed is by phenotype of ancestors, is it a one drop rule or is it a just immediate parents? 

For example, this is Fredi Washington. Who played the Peola character in the earliest film version of "immitation of life". She called herself black. She rejected hollywoods desire to have her lie about her background and claim she is white. And lived most of her life as a maid/nurse in Harlem. She definitely looked mixed. I call people like her yella. She is definitely more yella than Beyonce or Hally Berry or Dorothy Dandridge. And arguably even more yella than Hailee Steinfeld which says a lot.  But she is black to me. From your definition she is mixed, so she couldn't apply for Miss Black America, correct? 

 

3. Are you suggesting each candidate must be a citizen of the USA? I didn't read the rules of entry so I don't know how citizenship fits in Miss Black America. But a Black woman from Africa is Black so if she lives in the USA, why can't she run? Maybe she needs to be a USA citizen. I argue that is an even requirement, but is it mandatory?

38 minutes ago, Pioneer1 said:

Too often you have non-Black and mixed people who "back door" their way into these events and end up being hoisted over and on top of the actual Black participants.
This is nothing but a product of self-hatred.
Looking at a woman who is obviously not Black or looks like she's almost White...and calling HER "the most beautiful" woman in the community.

One of my biggest problems with Beyonce wasn't Beyonce herself...but how she was often glorified as a symbol of "Black" female beauty.
Whenever the subject of comparing female celebrities by race, Whites and Latinos would promote the women they thought were the most beautiful but when it came to Black people.....a lot of bruthaz would promote women like Beyonce or Halle Berry back in the day.
Women who obviously weren't Black.

A lot of pro-FBA podcasters are promoting lightskinned women as "ideal" models for who an FBA is or what an FBA looks like.

They're pushing Beyonce and Angel Reese.

You didn't mention Hailee Steinfield. But, the issues you mention here are not about the participants but the organizers of events. The organizers of events aren't being self haters, the organizers of events are doing what you did in your reply, not be concise or specific in definitions. Expecting everyone else to somehow know what they are thinking or how they define. That isn't functional. If you wanted to block out certain black women... or any women, all you have to do is make the rules clear.  But if the rules don't block out certain women from running then why shouldn't they run. 

 

And as for the host of events or people whether black or non black, no matter their language or background, who have a positive bias towards the phenotype called white and a negative phenotype called blacks , black people who produce/pay for events need to know who they are hosting or if non blacks are producing, what can you expect from the host of a non black show but adulation to non black beauty even if the show is labeled for black beauty cause the owners are not black. 

When you organize an event it is up to you to be clear, concise on definitions, not the people entering. 

 

[Chevdove]

20 hours ago, richardmurray said:

What do you think of a beauty contest only for Black Women in the USA that has existed since the 1968?

 

Thanks for the update.

You know, I just did a little google search and was also reminded that there are two different pageants [1] Miss Black America and 

[2] Miss Black USA.

 

17 hours ago, ProfD said:

I've heard of Miss Black America but I have no idea of what she actually does.

 

I think the Miss Black USA is based on college funds and educational goals.

 

 

 

 

This is the link for Miss Black USA of which is a scholarship pageant:

 

https://www.missblackusa.org/

 

 

 

“Because of Miss Black USA, I didn’t just win a crown, I won a full tuition merit scholarship to University of dc School of law. That’s what real impact looks like.”

—naiylah archer, Miss Black USA 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[richardmurray]

thank you @Chevdove

 

hiring, they are hiring for 2026

https://www.missblackusa.org/hiring

 

Location: Washington, D.C. (Hybrid + On-site during Pageant Week)
Status: Contract Role | Reports to: CEO / Founder
Term: January 2026 – August 2026

About Miss Black USA

Miss Black USA is the premier national pageant celebrating the brilliance, beauty, and legacy of Black women. Now in its 39th year, the organization has awarded over $750K in scholarships and has been featured by Fox Soul, BET, Good Morning America, and Essence.

This isn’t just a show—it’s a movement. And we are seeking an Executive Producer who can lead a television-caliber live production that elevates the brand, honors the legacy, and protects the experience.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a high-performing Executive Producer to manage and execute all production elements of the Miss Black USA 2026 National Pageant—from script to stage to screen.

You will lead a multidisciplinary team including creative, technical, and backstage departments. You must be equal parts visionary, producer, and problem-solver—with experience in both live events and broadcast production.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Planning

• Serve as the central point of coordination across all production departments

• Lead all production meetings and ensure timelines are on track

• Build and enforce a master production schedule

• Oversee call sheets, rehearsals, and stage direction in collaboration with the Stage Director

Television & Live Production

• Ensure all production elements meet the standards of broadcast presentation

• Collaborate with TV Producer / Broadcast Consultant on lighting, framing, and pacing

• Partner with AV team on Run of Show cues, video playback, and transitions

• Lead the final tech rehearsal and day-of-show operations

Creative & Script Oversight

• Supervise script development and ensure tone matches the brand’s legacy and prestige

• Review and approve all show segments, transitions, and voiceover copy

• Eliminate amateur language or self-promotional inserts (e.g. “Email us at…”)

Brand & Legacy Stewardship

• Ensure the show honors the 39-year history and aligns with Miss Black USA’s values

• Protect the crowning moment, red carpet, award presentations, and ceremonial protocols

• Work closely with the CEO to deliver her vision with excellence and reverence

You Are:

• A seasoned Executive Producer with 5+ years in live event or televised production

• Experienced with cue based, time productions, and working under pressure

• Strong in script structure, run of show planning, and team leadership

• A clear communicator who leads with excellence, humility, and purpose

• Culturally aware and passionate about elevating Black women and storytelling

• Deadline-oriented, drama-free, and solution-focused

Preferred Experience:

• Pageants, awards shows, or televised competitions

• Working with nonprofit or legacy brands

• Experience leading AV, stage, and tech crews

• Knowledge of copyright/music clearance is a plus

You Will Oversee:

• Stage Director / Show Caller

• TV Producer / Broadcast Consultant

• Scriptwriter

• Talent Coordinator

• Photographer & Videographers

• Hair & Makeup Team (in partnership with Event Planner)

• Graphics & Presentation Techs

Time Commitment:

• Part-time from January–June 2026

• Full availability during Pageant Week (August 2026) in Washington, D.C.

• Required for key virtual meetings, rehearsals, and final tech/dress run-through

Compensation:

Commensurate with experience. Competitive flat fee or monthly retainer. Travel/lodging for Pageant Week covered.

To Apply:

Email resume, portfolio (if applicable), and a short statement of interest to:
hr@missblackusa.org
Subject Line: Executive Producer Application – Miss Black USA 2026

 

 

Interesting, this was started in 1987, miss black america was started in 1968, so that is twenty years later. And Karen Arrington the author started this by giving full scholarships to one of two schools. This goes back to my point about black financial wealth. From 1492 to 1865 was Enslavement, from 1865 to 1980 was jim crow. then from 1980 to modernity is the era of integration. seven years into the era of integration black people have more money than ever before, and more is coming. Miss black america was founded in the jim crow era, black fiscal wealth was stymied all the time by whites. I tried to contact the founder to ask but her contact page didn't work properly. 

[aka Contrarian]

If Halle Berry and Beyonce self identify as ,"black" because one of their parents is black, then that's good enough for me and millions of other people who accept their decision. 

They are women of color and the  source of the color contained in their genes and DNA is a male negroid parent. ( just like Obama, our first black president. )

Nobody in America has been appointed as the arbitrator when it comes to declaring what constitutes blackness. Because there is no collective  consciousness among negroid slave-descended Americans, there is no consensus on this issue and no individual can declare otherwise.

 

 

 

[richardmurray]

@aka Contrarian

12 hours ago, aka Contrarian said:

If Halle Berry and Beyonce self identify as ,"black" because one of their parents is black, then that's good enough for me and millions of other people who accept their decision. 

They are women of color and the  source of the color contained in their genes and DNA is a male negroid parent. ( just like Obama, our first black president. )

Nobody in America has been appointed as the arbitrator when it comes to declaring what constitutes blackness. Because there is no collective  consciousness among negroid slave-descended Americans, there is no consensus on this issue and no individual can declare otherwise.

well said. 

and all I can add is, this post was started with the purpose to uplift Miss Black America and by extension other Black Pagents, like Miss Black USA, thank you @Chevdove

The purpose of this post was never to create or debate an absolute definition of who is a black woman in the usa. 

@Pioneer1 chose to segway from talking about miss black america, for which he had nothing to add, into talking about people in media, black or non black, whose job it is to get views/likes/attention and how they succeed by maintaining a consistency in narrative that suggest the most beautiful black women in the world happen to be black women with a certain phenotype, as close to a white european womans' as can be. 

the problem being, the black pagents seem to have found a way through their rules to elevate black women who do not fit the identity of women championed in the media pioneer is so concerned with. 

While the people in the media pioneer is so concerned with are working in a white owned space, the opposite of the black owned of the black beauty pageants. 

So... your correct, Contrarian, but the issue of this post is uplifting the black beauty pageant and it is unfortunate how little uplifting was achieved. It says something about black discourse online, we are too concerned with arguments online.

 

[Pioneer1]

richardmurray

 

From the photos i have seen every winner of the Miss Black America pageant has been a black woman of medium to dark brown skin. Now I haven't seen photos of every winner. I haven't seen photos of every contestant. 

But the direction you have taken this post about uplifting a black owned beauty pageant has many questions, you didn't provide answers for when you shifted directions.
 

Because there were no questions that begged to BE answered, lol.
I just dropped a casual observation.
Again, as I said....it wasn't meant TO take this thread into another direction.
Your response actually did that....lol.

 

1.  How do you define actual Black ? 
 

My PERSONAL definition of "Black" is people of sub-Saharan African descent who are either unmixed or if they are mixed-race SHOW very little of that admixture in their phenotype.

 

 Moreover why should the operators of Miss Black America adhere to such a definition? 
 

They don't HAVE to obviously, however in my opinion organizations and contests like this should be used to UPLIFT Black women and improve their self esteem and especially the self esteem of Black girls growing up in this society.
How can this be done if an organization/contest routinely uplifts and promotes females who don't look like them as role models they should aspire to?



 

For example, if a woman with with two parents from india born in NYC with skin asians will call very dark, which is equivalent to what people in the USA call black, which is common among many Indian people, wants to run for Miss Black America, does she fit what you mean by Black?  
 

No.
Race is phenotypical...but is more than JUST skin color.




 

From a phenotypical perspective, said example woman is Black. 
 

I personally don't consider East Indians Black in modern racial terms.
Infact, most of them don't even consider themselves Black either...no matter how dark they are.
 

Now Dravidians (dark skinned Indians) USED TO be considered what we'd today call "Black", in the ancient world.
They were called East Ethiopians.
Africans were called West Ethiopians.
The only phenotypical difference recognized between the two being the hair texture.
But today, they are not considered Black.

 

2. How do you define not-black or mixed? 
 

Those are 2 different terms that require 2 different PERSONAL definitions:
 

1. Not-Black is anybody who descends from races that are not sub-Saharan African as well as those who are mixed race with some sub-Saharan African ancestry but very few characteristics of this ancestry show in their phenotype.

2. Mixed is anybody from a multi-racial background who shows phenotypical characteristics of those races in fairly "even" proportion.

 

 

 

 

For example, this is Fredi Washington. Who played the Peola character in the earliest film version of "immitation of life". She called herself black. She rejected hollywoods desire to have her lie about her background and claim she is white. And lived most of her life as a maid/nurse in Harlem. She definitely looked mixed. I call people like her yella. She is definitely more yella than Beyonce or Hally Berry or Dorothy Dandridge. And arguably even more yella than Hailee Steinfeld which says a lot.  But she is black to me. From your definition she is mixed, so she couldn't apply for Miss Black America, correct? 
 

Correct.

Infact, going by her phenotypical characteristics....I wouldn't even call her "mixed".

 

 

I'd call her Caucasian/White...lol.

 

 

 

3. Are you suggesting each candidate must be a citizen of the USA?

????
Well, if it's for Miss Black America or Miss Black U.S.A...one would presume that would be a given....lol.

How can someone who is NOT an American even enter let alone "win" a contest designed FOR Americans?????



 I didn't read the rules of entry so I don't know how citizenship fits in Miss Black America. But a Black woman from Africa is Black so if she lives in the USA, why can't she run?

 

Because if she's not a citizen, she's not America....lol.
So how can a person not FROM here properly represent the beauty of those native here?
This is almost common sense.

If we're having a contest for the best tasting Chinese food.....would you bring tasty TACOS to the contest?
They may taste good.
They may be food.
But they aren't CHINESE food.
Being CHINESE is an essential qualification for a contest ABOUT Chinese food...lol.
 

 

You didn't mention Hailee Steinfield. But, the issues you mention here are not about the participants but the organizers of events. The organizers of events aren't being self haters, the organizers of events are doing what you did in your reply, not be concise or specific in definitions. Expecting everyone else to somehow know what they are thinking or how they define. That isn't functional. If you wanted to block out certain black women... or any women, all you have to do is make the rules clear.  But if the rules don't block out certain women from running then why shouldn't they run. 

 

Excellent point.
But this....in my opinion...expresses how short sighted the organizers of the event would be to fail to establish these qualifications.

 

It's like having an athletic event for women without first defining WHO a woman actually is.
For some people....most people....who a woman is is a given.
It's common sense.
But for others....especially those with nefarious motives....they'll try to twist the definition of it or take advantage of their NOT being a definition to push their own subversive agendas.

It's the same with these beauty contests.
If we don't clearly define WHO is Black, then soon you'll have White contestants being presented as "Black" and winning them to promote the idea that White skin, light hair, and light eyes are the most beautiful traits to be found among "Black" people.

I call it the "Beyonce Effect"
Where people who aren't Black are promoted as the "ideal Black".

 

 

 

When you organize an event it is up to you to be clear, concise on definitions, not the people entering. 

 

I agree 100%

 

 

 

 

Pioneer1 chose to segway from talking about miss black america, for which he had nothing to add, into talking about
we are too concerned with arguments online.

 

Perhaps you are confusing healthy DISCOURSE with DISCORD.
 

[aka Contrarian]

Seems to me, the closest thing to a typical black Miss America candidate who would not offend anyone would be a poised female of smooth medium brown complexion with a full well- coiffed head of dark hair whose facial features are arranged in compliance with the universal  golden triangle symmetry, and whose body is well-proportioned. 

 

Actually, however, I think role models are overrated. Why do little girls have to look to public figures to emulate. And do we know if this is as widespread a sentiment as celebrities clutching awards would have us believe?  Ideally, a girl's mother or other female relative should be her role model.

And I'm further inclined to think that her peer group is who most young girls want to impress because that was the case with me and my friends.

I never fixated on celebrities as somebody I passionately wanted to look like. My friends and I just wanted to be the best versions of ourselves. 

 

So says the cynical contrarian

[richardmurray]

@Pioneer1

9 hours ago, Pioneer1 said:

Your response actually did that....lol.

nice try, you changed the course

9 hours ago, Pioneer1 said:

my opinion organizations and contests like this should be used to UPLIFT Black women and improve their self esteem and especially the self esteem of Black girls growing up in this society.
How can this be done if an organization/contest routinely uplifts and promotes females who don't look like them as role models they should aspire to?

organizations and contest liek this do, the people you referred to are media people, none of them run pageants or anything similar

9 hours ago, Pioneer1 said:

Race is phenotypical...but is more than JUST skin color.

race is any factor, phenotypical is just one

9 hours ago, Pioneer1 said:

I'd call her Caucasian/White...lol.

 

even enough but fredi washington didn't, and more importantly, to the idea of beauty , we black dosers have to embrace our reality. We are a people who were once completely enslaved, that comes with a history of sexual abuse that leads to mixed babies, and the heritage of DOSers in the usa is for the mixed to be part of the black group. That is the heritage. rightly or wrongly. 

Now to the future, it seems the latin american pardo/casta heritage is settling in the usa, and will finally be the factor to undo what the one drop rule set in. but until then, the yella woman is black.

9 hours ago, Pioneer1 said:

How can someone who is NOT an American even enter let alone "win" a contest designed FOR Americans?????

what determines a black american isn't universallly defined by blacks. the issue pioneer is you keep missing the lack of consensus, means every black in the usa doesn't see anything in one way.

9 hours ago, Pioneer1 said:

So how can a person not FROM here properly represent the beauty of those native here?

natives? you mean choctaw or seminole?

9 hours ago, Pioneer1 said:

If we're having a contest for the best tasting Chinese food.....would you bring tasty TACOS to the contest?

since chinese food in the usa is not actually chinese cusiine from asia, and has more in common with tacos why not?

9 hours ago, Pioneer1 said:

It's like having an athletic event for women without first defining WHO a woman actually is.

yeah but that happens in the usa, because this country is the king f lawsuits which kill events. and that is because the usa protects individualism and individualism by default means no one's definition is ever correct. a trasngender woman can sue to be in a contest for humans born with a vagina. You say short sighted, but I argue, an inevitable reality of the usa. you see this in the white populace, it is a pan statian reality

10 hours ago, Pioneer1 said:

ine WHO is Black, then soon you'll have White contestants being presented as "Black" and winning them to promote the idea that White skin, light hair, and light eyes are the most beautiful traits to be found among "Black" people.

I call it the "Beyonce Effect"
Where people who aren't Black are promoted as the "ideal Black".

I disagree 100% , again miss black america or miss black usa prove you wrong. In media things that black people/dosers actually own or control in the usa I find the advertised image of black women is usually not upheld through the lens of the yella women but through the cocoa women.  but both are still black. 

And as for all the black or non blacks in white owned media who emphasize the yella women over the cocoa women in the black populace, well, that is white owned media. 

10 hours ago, Pioneer1 said:

Perhaps you are confusing healthy DISCOURSE with DISCORD.

even enough, though I rather posit I am being too demanding to the tone or function of discourse. 

 

@aka Contrarian

7 hours ago, aka Contrarian said:

Seems to me, the closest thing to a typical black Miss America candidate who would not offend anyone would be a poised female of smooth medium brown complexion with a full well- coiffed head of dark hair whose facial features are arranged in compliance with the universal  golden triangle standard, and whose body is well-proportioned. 

miss america is run by whites...

miss black america + miss black usa are run by blacks and i don't think any of their winners or contestants are offensive. I know I am not alone in said thinking.

7 hours ago, aka Contrarian said:

Actually, however, I think role models are overrated. Why do little girls have to look to public figures to emulate. And do we know if this is as widespread a sentiment as celebrities clutching awards would have us believe?  Ideally, a girl's mother or other female relative should be her role model.

And I'm further inclined to think that her peer group is who most young girls want to impress because that was the case with me and my friends.

I never fixated on celebrities as somebody I passionately wanted to look like. My friends and I just wanted to be the best versions of ourselves. 

 

So says the cynical contrarian

unfortunately the media of the usa has become such a marketplace + battleground+ tool that it has grown in influence. 

And some little girls are orphans, some little girls are abused by their blood kin, some little girls don't find enough of themselves in those at home. the reason a little girl can find inspiration worth emulating are many. 

Ideally a little girl should be raised by her parents or the greater village to be herself, and figure out her role, not model off of anyone. 

Interesting, I never wanted to impress anybody as a child.I only had one poster of a human figure on my wall. 

[aka Contrarian]

If we lived in a perfect world, none if these bumps in the road would hamper one's life's journey. 

 

Folks need to be reminded on a regular basis that "nobody  promised you a rose garden".

 

At some point little girls and boys have to mature into adults who deal with reality. Life is not fair.