Little Miss Hispanic Delaware stripped of title, because she's not Latina enough

[Jamaal510]

Link: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/hispanic-dethroned-latina-article-1.1469761

The organization says that Jakiyah McKoy, 7, lost her crown because there is no documented proof she has at least 25% Latina blood. But Jakiyah’s supporters say it’s about her dark skin.

Jakiyah McKoy was crowned Little Miss Hispanic Delaware — only to face controversy over her heritage.

Little Miss Hispanic Delaware has been stripped of her title — for not being Latina enough.

Jakiyah McKoy, 7, has been left devastated after pageant sponsors Nuestras Raices Delaware ruled there was no proof she had at least 25% Latina blood.

Her family claims a grandparent was from the Dominican Republic — but without any documentation, the distraught beauty queen had to forfeit her crown.

The McKoys are now claiming it is the girl's darker skin — and not a lack of documentation — that is the reason her reign was cut short.

The claim led Daniel Jose Older to set up a Change.org petition:
https://www.change.org/petitions/let-jakiyah-keep-her-crown?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=36996&alert_id=luTLDvceOB_HmYRkAQQXF

A petition in support of Jakiyah McKoy claims that the teeny beauty queen is being investigated because she is of African descent as well as Dominican.

"Nuestras Raices Delaware has blocked her win after an outcry from people claiming that, because she is black, she is 'not the best representative of Latin beauty,'" he wrote.

"The title is now pending while the committee 'investigates' Jakiyah's heritage. Meanwhile, none of the other competitors were subject to such an investigation," he added.

Nuestra Raices President Maria Parez, however, denied the allegations of racism.

"Color has nothing to do with it," she told Latino Rebels. "We're all Latinos. That's why we're so beautiful because we come in all different colors."

"Her parents were asked to bring in documentation. Of all of the documentation brought in there's nothing to confirm Dominican heritage," she added.

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. So how did she get thru the prior contests and competitions?

Seems to me the requirement for proof should have come before, and not after, the finals.

Somehow it is appearing that not until she won was the heritage an issue.

[rocktivity]

2. DING DING DING! Dixiegrrrrl, you're our grand prize winner!

Seems to me the requirement for proof should have come before, and not after...

And they are shocked -- SHOCKED!!! -- by the accusations of racism? Be still, my heart!


rocktivity

[K.O. Stradivarius]

3. Because up until now, some sore loser parents didn't complain.

[Jamaal510]

4. .

[xfundy]

5. If America were truly color blind and non-racist

I'd bet pageants like this would disappear. Then again, I could be wrong, everyone wants someone who shares their features to be recognized, though I think racism still makes it more necessary.

Still, "White Pride Month" continues to be pushed by baggers and other racists, even though it already covers 12 months.

People in Latin countries and communities aren't typically bothered by differences in skin tone. They're accepted, for the most part, and may be called out for political reasons as being either "rubio" or "moreño."

Regardless, everyone's got to share the planet or we all die. Whoops, looks like we're already headed there thanks to the Greedy Old Pigs.

[Nevernose]

7. There's a big move in multicultural education to do away with "pride months"

And it's a move that I agree with mode strongly every school year. Diversity is important every single day, and celebrating that diversity -- and making people feel special -- should happen every single day.

Of course, I also think we should get rid of beauty pageants, or at least make them socially unacceptable, like smoking.

[tavernier]

8. Seven year olds should win trophies

for spelling Dinosaur... not for looking Latino or American in an evening gown or a bathing suit.

[kwassa]

9. Here she is, with a great blog post about this situation.

http://icessfernandez.com/2013/09/26/an-open-letter-to-jakiyah-mckoy-and-the-little-black-latinas/

I know. We are all Latinos and come from places that speak Spanish, eat delicious food, and have a zest for living that few other cultures have. I understand that perhaps one of your other friends is also Latina. She may have lighter skin and doesn’t have to straighten her hair with chemicals. You both share the same culture, but in this world, she will always be seen as beautiful and you will be seen as exotic. Some will call you ugly.

This is what happens when people label and expect people to be a certain way. When you are different, and different in a way that insults people’s perceptions, you are the last person in the world they want to acknowledge. They want you to not exist. They fail to see the beauty in life and chose to see it with boundaries.

And some of this will come from the people you love the most, your own Latino community. And it will hurt. This is an issue that few people talk about much less try to correct. Look at the publications and television networks that represent us. You are hardly there and if you are, you are never the lead or front and center.

But don’t lose heart, lovely. There is change coming. As Latinos grow and become more educated in this country, this idea of the typical Latina — what she looks like, where she’s from — is becoming more accurate. There are women like Soledad O’Brien, Ilda Calderon, and Concha Bukia who are changing the world just by their existence. They are undeniable forces for good and they are cracking ceilings and busting doors so that one day, the thing that happened to you and to me and other dark girls with pelos necios, doesn’t happen anymore.