Nightline 1984: Vanessa Williams/Miss America scandal (Part 2 of 2)

[hadrons]

Run time: 06:31 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3AFnaHvd_8   Posted on YouTube: July 28, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: July 28, 2008 By DU Member: hadrons Views on DU: 1473

 
I know at first glance it seems strange to place this in political videos, but the Nightline segment does touch on subjects such as: pornography, Women's rights, role models, role of Women in society, celebrity, and journalistic responsibility (race isn't discussed, but there were in African-Americans on the panel.)

The discussion panel squares writer/feminist Susan Brownmiller against Penthouse VP Kathy Keeton. 1976 Miss America Tawny Schneider joins in the second half (Schneider herself set-off a Miss America firestorm for daring to speak on subjects like abortion.)

[Drunken Irishman]

1. That was such a pathetic and sorry ass moment.

I think it made Williams even more hotter.

I haven't liked Miss America since! Especially since Miss Utah won because of this...even though Venessa Williams deserved to keep her title.

[hadrons]

2. Actually it was Miss Jersey Suzette Charles who took the title ....

Charles was African-American too (half at least, her father is Italian) ... strangely enough I found a couple of Suzette Charles things on some beta tapes along with this Nightline.

[Drunken Irishman]

4. Well shit, when was Miss Utah?

Maybe it was a year later, to restore the Miss America image.

[samdogmom]

3. Many people know Vanessa Williams...how many other

"Miss America's" can you name?

I felt very sorry for Ms. Williams when they stripped her of her title. But, I think she actually has had the last laugh! Who even cares about the Miss America contest anymore?

(P.S.--I love Vanessa Williams' Christmas Albums--she has a beautiful voice.)

[Drunken Irishman]

5. You'e right, it was probably the best thing that happened to her.

[Wednesdays]

7. I agree with all of your comments

Particularly "Who even cares about the Miss America contest anymore?" And I'm a red-blooded heterosexual man!

Indeed--when I was a kid we were always excited when the contest came on, and the whole family gathered around the tube. Now the whole process now seems really quaint to me. Teen girls parading around in nightgowns and swimsuits to show off their "stuff" (and oh, yeah, she can sing "Amazing Grace", too) in order to win scholarships(?) and finally get a little more edjucashun than thinking up a 30-second canned answer to how she could bring about peace on earth.

The thought of such bimbos dancing across my TV anymore makes me want to yawn or barf, or actually shiver in fear, 'cause a lot of them don't seem to have all their marbles.

[iconicgnom]

6. I agreed most with Kathy Keeton. The others appear a bit false, self-righteous.