Over the past twenty years, Karen Arrington has helped over 1,000 women step into powerful careers in media, business, medicine and law. As an award-winning author, philanthropist, NAACP Image Award winner and advocate of Black empowerment, Karen Arrington has a few tips on how we can change the conversation centered around the Global Perception of African American women.
Q: Can you elaborate on your first memories of feeling that African American women needed more positive representation?
Growing up as a young teen, I remember turning on the television and reading mainstream magazines and I didn’t see women who looked like me. Yet, I was surrounded by beautiful, intelligent, and talented Black women like my Mother and her strong and independent friends. These women were invisible in mainstream media. I remember watching Miss America and Miss USA year after year and there were no women of color on the stage. Anytime you are part of a subculture, it’s important to have your own reward system, and this is why I created Miss Black USA. Black women deserve to be seen, heard, and take up space.
Q: What are three things you hope to change about the perception of African American women?
The suggestion that ambition is wrong or not welcomed is problematic. If Black women didn’t have a measure of ambition, there is no way that we would be able to navigate the highly patriarchal environment that we’ve been forced to endure since arriving on these shores as enslaved Africans. Part of that ambition is driven by our innate ability to survive and be on the vanguard of democracy and social change. Yes, V.P. candidate and Senator Kamala Harris is ambitious. Ambitious women are magic and we are taking that ambition to the polls.
2) The angry Black woman stereotype is used to silence and shame Black women who dare to challenge social inequalities, complain about their circumstances, or demand fair treatment. We will not be silenced. We will amplify our voices and turn up the volume.
3) Black beauty is multifaceted. It comes in 50 shades of brown, all sizes, and hair textures. Black beauty wins every year at Miss Black USA. There’s nothing more powerful than seeing 51 shades of brown, beauty, talent, and intellect on one stage.
Q: What is a common insecurity you find while working with women of color? What would you say the source of this insecurity stems from?
Comparison appears to be #1. This is why representation matters and it is important for Black girls and women to see themselves in powerful positions. When you compare yourself to others who don’t share your own identity and values, you tend to adopt a false sense of self-worth. This is why I am so proud of the women who compete at Miss Black USA and the work we do. They have a strong sense of self and proud of their Blackness. They proudly wear their kinky coils, natural and curly hair. They sashay on the national stage being true to who they are without conforming to European standards of beauty. In my book, YOUR NEXT LEVEL LIFE: 7 Rules of Power, Confidence, and Opportunity For Black Women In America, which recently won a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Works, I share 7 rules of success which Black women can use to level up in their life and career. I meet women where they are and guide them to the next level. It’s based on the success of over 1,000 young women that I’ve personally mentored and guided into highly successful careers in education, media, law, medicine etc. The book is available at all major retailers.
Q: How is the pageant world beneficial to society?
Pageants are like sports. They require discipline, build character and provide development. Miss Black USA has the highest concentration of high achieving Black women each year. Eighty percent of our contestants are in graduate or professional school. They are who’s who of young women of color across the nation. They are the Michelle Obamas and Kamala Harris of the world. They are unapologetic, woke and amplify their voices for causes that are dear to them. It’s highly competitive but what I attempt to instill is that as Black women, when one woman wins, we all win. We are our ancestor’s wildest dreams and this platform is your stage to make a change, make a difference. Miss Black USA is an empowerment organization that just happens to be a pageant. We encourage other ambitious women to join the movement and apply at www.missblackusa.org. We are also accepting requests/proposals for judges, partners, vendors, and sponsors for our upcoming national pageant. More info can be found on our website at www.missblackusa.org.
Q: Do you feel there is a negative stigma centered around pageants, one that comes from ignorance and misinformation?
Absolutely! But in fairness, part of that is because Black pageants like Miss Black USA have not received the visibility they deserve. I have more than I can count mainstream networks ask to televise Miss Black USA, but they want to turn it into a reality TV show and require a lot of drama. I will not sell-out Black women. We encourage your readers to support these outstanding women and follow these on Instagram and Facebook @missblackusa.
Q: What are three things/actions that may seem small, but can uplift the African American community?
One of the most significant actions is voting. This pandemic has certainly demonstrated the importance of your vote on the local, state, and national level. Second, supporting Black women, the true architects of society. At Miss Black USA we tirelessly work year-round uplifting our community, raising awareness of issues that affect our community. We have awarded over $500,000 in scholarship for our queens.
Education is the key to fulfilling your highest potential. We encourage others to support our scholarship fund by making a donation or sponsoring a scholarship in a loved one’s name.
“And third, buy Black. As we have seen throughout this pandemic that Black businesses and people have suffered disproportionately.”
Karen Arrington
When buy black and support our own, we are creating wealth in our own communities that providing opportunities that would not be available to use otherwise.
