Home Scandal and Gossip Rachael Malonson Miss Black University of Texas: Is she black enough?

Rachael Malonson Miss Black University of Texas: Is she black enough?

Christopher Koulouris: About author bio at bottom of article.
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Rachael Malonson
Pictured, Rachael Malonson Miss Black University of Texas
Rachael Malonson
Pictured, Rachael Malonson Miss Black University of Texas

Rachael Malonson Miss Black University of Texas: A winner of a black pageant is criticized for being too light skinned and not deserving of the title.

Causing furore are claims by pundits that this year’s winner of Miss Black University of Texas, Rachael Malonson isn’t black enough. Define black?

The calls come after Malonson, 22 who is biracial was crowned ‘Miss Black University of Texas’ Sunday at an event hosted by the historically black fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi.

Almost immediately after Malonson was announced as the winner with the posting of photos, the pageant winner was criticized for how her light her skin is and whether she was in fact African American.

Posted one twitter user, ‘they still chose the most light skinned.’

Wrote one user, ‘Don’t feel bad. Black people hate themselves almost as much as they hate white people.’

Commented another, ‘Here’s a crazy idea… maybe it’s time to stop trying to dissect people to determine how many drops of black blood or Jewish blood they have. Maybe it’s time to get rid of racist contests like “Miss Black Universe.’

While another social media user wrote: ‘Her father may be black but socially I see she doesn’t even claim it unless when it’s convenient for her. That’s that s*** I don’t like.’

This argument was echoed by a number of Twitter users, many of whom referenced Rachel Dolezal as an example of someone who used ‘blackness’ for her own advantage noted a report via the dailymail. 

Malonson, who has a black father and a white mother, said she was caught off guard by the criticism. 

‘I didn’t realize that even after I received the title I would still have to explain myself, that there was still ignorant people out there who are asking me to prove myself,’ she told via the Dallas Morning News. 

Adding, ‘Just because I have straight hair and olive skin tone doesn’t mean I’m not black… I don’t have to look a certain way to be black.’

An argument that Dolezale has held all along, despite being born white- claiming one can assert their blackness by the way they feel and how they associate and reference themselves. A train of thought which has few takers outside of those in the transgender community who associate with the gender other than the one they were born with, going so far as to manufacture themselves to look their preferred gender.

A state of being many question as lacking authenticity when it comes to race and color.

Rachael Malonson
Rachael Malonson Miss Black University of Texas

Despite the criticism directed her, Malonson, a senior and a broadcasting and journalism student at the University of Texas has taken the criticism in stride. 

In a Twitter post, she thanked everyone who came out and supported her, especially those in the African American community. 

‘The beautiful thing about this is all the people here who have come out and defended me. It shows I have a beautiful support system here,’ she wrote.

In an interview with the Daily Texan, Malonson also said she has long struggled with her mixed heritage because nobody could figure out where she was from. The 22 year old revealed growing up people confusing her for Hispanic, questions of identity which made her feel insecure. 

In a Facebook post after her win, Malonson wrote how at first she was reluctant to take part in the pageant because of her mixed race.

‘I challenged myself by vulnerably expressing obstacles I face as a biracial woman and was not going to leave the stage without letting others know that my blessings and strength are in Christ alone,’ she wrote. 

Malonson also said that social media attacks will not ruin her moment, saying: ‘For me, I’ve always had to battle “I’m not black enough.” But to not just place, but win the title is truly rewarding’. 

Additionally, her brother Greg Malonson shared a photo to Facebook that showed his sister after she won the pageant along with one of the pair together, writing that it ‘sickens me that members of our Black community would attack their own because she is biracial. 

‘Instead of hating each other, we should unite and uplift each other.’ 

Rachael Malonson
Rachael Malonson Miss Black University of Texas pictured alongside her brother, Greg Malonson.

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