Gerald Early Life with Daughters: Watching the Miss America Pageant shows the hurdles involved in beauty contests especially among women. Early describes the cultural stereotypes that faced black women as they tried to fit into these beauty contents. The story revolves around a family with two daughters who are beginning to understand racial prejudices. Early describes his role and responsibility of nurturing his young daughters in their perception of themselves as black women. In this way, the author tackles how the issues of gender and race affect the society and their implications. This paper focuses on analyzing Early’s perception of race pride and how it affected the family in their opinion of beauty (Early 133).

In the essay, Early declares that, for many years after the pageant began, only white women won the contests. White women had dominated the contests while black women remained in the background. In essence, the author notes that the black skin was viewed with suspicion while the African Americans perceived the white people as attractive and supreme. From the essay, the author states that:

…I suppose, a “natural” or at least an understandable and predictable interest in seeing the National White Barbie Doll chosen every year because for a long time, of course, the Miss America contest, with few exceptions, was a totemic preoccupation with and representation of a particularly stilted form of patriarchal white supremacy. In short, it was a national white doll contest” [Early 133].

Early notes that, racial discrimination dominated the beauty pageants as the black women became devalued. The lack of any African American contestants winning the show indicated that racial and gender inequality dominated the society. The author calls upon the black women to empower themselves and take on “race pride” as a way to forge ahead. He asserts that the society remains preoccupied and focused on skin color instead of concentrating on the value that each person brings. These pageants only focused on upholding the white skin as superior, and valuable to all others. In this way, the author denotes that the African American needs to take up their roles and build their race instead of admiring the white color. By building the black pride in their skin, the African Americans have a chance to realize their immense contribution to the society. The idea is to improve the quality of life and valuing each other, instead of dwelling on discrimination in the society (Early 134).

It becomes clear that the author’s wife has always been fascinated with beauty pageants from an early age even though she witnessed white participants only. However, after many years of watching the show, she begins to get angry at the turn of events. Her interest in the pageant turned into hatred as many white women kept on winning, and no black females secured the victory. In reality, “She, as a black women, had a long-standing quarrel with the contest until Vanessa Williams was chosen the first black Miss America, in September 1983” (Early 137).The moment the first black woman secured a win from the beauty contest, the wife felt fulfilled with the outcomes. The essence of pride and accomplishment developed in realizing that a black woman had the potential to compete with white women. This realization shows that the wife views race as something that can be overcome for people to work together. She also perceives beauty as a valuable entity that is possessed by both white and African Americans. In this way, the wife understands that black women need to be proud of their color and beauty. Her resolve is strengthened as she refuses to straighten the hair of her two daughters to look like that of white people. Even though in earlier days she straightened her hair, the victory of a black female gives her the courage to be proud of their heritage. The wife ensures that she buys her daughters black dolls instead of white ones in order to instill pride, and value for the black culture. She identifies with the success of black women in beauty pageants as she encourages her daughters to avoid prejudice against any group. Through this essay, it becomes clear to the wife that beauty does not mean the skin color, but instead focuses on a person’s character. She becomes proud in knowing that her two girls do not hold racial prejudice against the white people, and they also value their cultural background (Early 136).

The author also watches the show with his wife and children, which opens his eyes on how inferior the black race had been degraded. He uses the opportunity to formulate ideas on how the black people can improve their lives. From the essay, Early declares that, “…wrote an essay entitled “black pride” in which she accused blacks of being ashamed of their heritage and, even more damningly in some of her barbs obviously aimed at black women, of their looks” (Early 140).The author argues that, blacks do not take advantage of opportunities presented in the society because they believe in white supremacy. He declares that many African Americans try to imitate the white lifestyle and ignore their own cultural roots. They do not take the chance to uphold their own values and norms in order to improve their lives. He advocates for “race pride” which means African America society appreciating their color, and physical appearance without shame. In addition, the author declares that black females have lost sense of their beauty and try to use products that make them whiter. Black women have an inferiority complex regarding their physical appearance, and beauty which destroys their value. The author calls upon the black women to appreciate their skin color in order to have fulfilling lives. He watches the beauty contests and realizes that the society has marginalized the black women, however, he declare that African American women can improve their lives even under discrimination as long as they accept themselves without fear (Early 133).

The children from the essay do not have a full understanding or realization of the racism or discrimination in the society. Linnet and Rosalind no not think that being black or white makes one more beautiful. They understand beauty through pictures and videos, but do not wish to be the people they admire. The author says, “They think Vanessa is very pretty, prettier than their mother, but they attach no significance to being pretty, that is to say, no real value; they would not admire someone simply because he or she was good-looking” (Early 139). The two girls know how to value their lives and have no regrets about being black. They understand the black race and grow playing with black dolls to expose them to their culture. They do not try to copy the lifestyle of the white people because they know that people are different. In this way, it becomes clear that the kids realize the responsibility of enhancing one’s identity without shame or fear. In terms of beauty, the kids do not think white people are physically better than black people. This becomes clear as Linnet tells her father that she does not think she is the most beautiful girl, but she is happy being ordinary. The two girls remain in school even when others students tease them because they had their hair cut. They understand that black people are beautiful the way they are and do not need to change their appearances to please the society. Their parents do not think they are naïve, but instead they see them as enlightened. The author acknowledges the girls awareness by stating that, “this bit of sanity on my daughters’ part may prove for the future…” to show how they sees them as open-minded. The parents feel that the awareness of the kids shows that there is a future for the black community. In essence, the author argues that the black community would succeed not because of their race, but because individual effort and awareness opens doors. It shows that beauty and race do not matter in the end and only people’s values and focus can ensure success in life (Early 144).

Conclusion

In Gerald Early essay Life with Daughters: Watching the Miss America Pageant, the issues of discrimination and racism seemed to have rooted the society. The author declares that the white people had dominated society main structures such as beauty pageants while no blacks forged ahead. It also discusses the author’s wife who becomes ecstatic after the first black woman wins the beauty contest. The wife and the kids understand that the black women are also beautiful and that, racism has no place in the society.

Work Cited

Early, Gerald. “Life With Daughters: Watching The Miss America Pageant.” Kenyon Review 12.4 (1990): 132-145. Academic Search Premier. Web. 4 June 2014.

CLICK BUTTON TO ORDER NOW