She's your REINA to bee-eeee ! , at Coppin State

[get these nets]

First Latina to be crowned Miss Coppin State University faces backlash​

February 03, 2023

Keylin Perez, Miss Coppin State University. The 22-year-old is the first Latina to hold the crown in the school’s history. Photo courtesy of Coppin State. (Courtesy of Coppin State University)

When Keylin Perez became the first Latina to be crowned Miss Coppin State University, it was the second-most exciting moment of her life, she said, after joining the military.
“I have formed great friendships,” said Perez, 22, a nursing major from Mount Airy and a sergeant in the Army Reserves.

But as news spread of her accomplishment at the historically Black public university, she faced cyberbullying, much of it focused on her Latina heritage. Perez believes the harassment stems from the belief among some that HBCUs are solely for Black people. Perez said that some of her online critics also believe she is white, which apparently also angered some.
“I knew that it would happen when I first decided to run. I knew it might take this route. I just tried to remain focused on what I have done for the university. It makes me feel better,” she said.
She acknowledged some of the comments were “aggressive” and “hurtful,” but said she never thought of stepping down.

The comments started to explode after Perez posted a playful TikTok video, “When both Baltimore HBCUs Mister and Miss see each other.” The video received close to 3,000 comments — about 80% of them attacking Perez, she said.
“It was a mixture of me ‘invading their space,’ ‘How did Coppin allow this to happen?’ and that they are ‘confused,’ and ‘Black people can never have anything,’” she said.
To date, the video has amassed more than 400,000 views, 75,000 likes and more than 2,700 comments. And there have been cloned videos that have also gone viral — most of which were also negative, according to Perez.

Although this has been unsettling, Perez said she has faced discrimination and hate before, as a student at Glenelg High School in Howard County. A series of incidents there, including racist graffiti, attracted news coverage.
“At Glenelg, where less than 20 students were Black and less than five were Latino, I never felt accepted or welcome. It was very overwhelming. It was a lot to take it,” she said. “All of that was erased when I came to Coppin. I felt very welcome at the student orientation I went to. I went to three of them. Just talking to the students and staff and the culture made me feel welcome.”
“My parents are immigrants [from Guatemala],” she added. “I can relate to people who were first-generation. I was given the freedom to pursue my career. That’s also another reason why I feel so welcome here at Coppin.”




According to data from Coppin State University, 3% percent of Coppin students who identify as Latino or Hispanic. Eighty percent identify as Black or African American.

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Perez, who is scheduled to graduate in May, was named the university’s Miss Sophomore in 2020-2021 and Miss Junior the following year. She was also elected Miss Coppin State University last spring and crowned in the fall. In addition to being in the Army Reserves and a member of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Perez has volunteered to perform health screenings in the community.
Perez said that the university administration and students have been extremely supportive. She has earned the respect of her peers, as well as the Coppin faculty and staff and other members of Eagle Nation, because of her character, according to a news release issued by the university.
“Keylin represents Coppin well in word and deed, with grace, humility, and resilience. She is a great ambassador for our university, our diverse student body, and all we stand for,” the new release stated. “Eagle Nation stands with Keylin Perez, and we are proud to call her our 91st Miss Coppin State University.”
(continued below)

 

[get these nets]

Amaya Scott, 18, a freshman studying business management, wrote a message of support to Perez, which Perez later reposted to her Instagram account.
“I support Keylin not only because she is my queen, but because she’s my friend. She’s a genuine person who goes through a lot on a daily basis and still pushes past,” Scott said. “She never lets anyone see her down. She uplifts, she loves. … She is a true definition of a queen and will always have my support.”
Scott said negativity directed toward Perez does not originate from Coppin State University, where she drew applause at a recent basketball game.
“People need to understand that it doesn’t matter what race or color you are, because over here at Coppin, we don’t see color,” she said.
Chelsea Pratt, the 83rd Miss Winston Salem State University, also came to the defense of Perez through social media. The two met in September at the National Black Hall of Fame competition.
“She’s my sister queen,” the 21-year-old senior said. “I always thought that she was such a generous and amazing queen. She has always been such a beautiful force to be reckoned with.”
Pratt said Perez has a great personality and brings a lot of energy to the role. They recently spoke and Pratt offered words of encouragement.
“She’s also a person of color as well,” Pratt said. “She’s more than deserving of being the queen that she is.”
Pratt said Latinos are embraced at her historically Black university in North Carolina.
“I feel like they are treated with respect. We try to be very inclusive. They wanted to go to that school, and they shouldn’t feel like they shouldn’t be there,” she said.
As Miss Coppin State University, Perez’ title carries with it a book stipend. She and other members of the royal court also get a budget to produce events for students for the entire year. Perez, who plans to become a psychiatric nurse in the military after she graduates, said she has been encouraged by the support she received from the HBCU community at Coppin and elsewhere.
“As a person of color, I have been treated with love and support. It’s been very lovely. I have created a lot of friendships and bonds with them. It has been very pleasant,” she said. “I stated no matter the amount of hate I am receiving, I will continue my reign. I ran for a reason, and I will finish with the same positive energy.”
Perez plans to encourage other Latinos to attend HBCUs like Coppin.
“I would say to take that leap of faith and go for it,” she said. “It’s an incredible experience to grow with who I am. I have been able to make bonds, become a better individual, and to interact with a vast variety of people. It is a safe place for them.”

​

 

[get these nets]

@DrBanneker

Have to post bilingual entries for Rate this HBCU profile for Coppin State

*just jokes

 

[Remote]

They voted for her.

The hell are they mad about?

 

[DrBanneker]

They voted for her.

The hell are they mad about?

In the article it notes it basically ain't Coppin folks raising a fuss online. It is the typical TikTok crowd it looks like.

 

[DrBanneker]

@DrBanneker

Have to post bilingual entries for Rate this HBCU profile for Coppin State

*just jokes

Lol, yeah. I am actually doing Coppin next week. What's funny is Coppin is more Black by % than Howard is.

 

[DrBanneker]

So I have a few things to say on this:

1. I wasn't sure what I was about to get, but after reading the article I am pretty impressed with her rebuttal. Not sure if she has communications experience but the way she handled it has me behind her 100%.

a. She didn't attack Black people ("reverse racism", "Black racism") or appeal to non-Blacks for "help".
b. She big upped Coppin as a school, including its staff and student body, and also big upped HBCUs, even telling other Latinos its a good experience
c. She drew a line between the critics and folks at Coppin

Pretty well done.

2. Wasn't there similar 'outrage' when a biracial girl won either a HBCU pageant or some Black frat thing? I mean some people just want controversy.

3. Coppin is a public school. If anyone thinks they should 'do something' and open themselves up to a lawsuit or scolding from Annapolis, you are nuts.

 

[get these nets]

The comments started to explode after Perez posted a playful TikTok video, “When both Baltimore HBCUs Mister and Miss see each other.” The video received close to 3,000 comments — about 80% of them attacking Perez, she said.
“It was a mixture of me ‘invading their space,’ ‘How did Coppin allow this to happen?’ and that they are ‘confused,’ and ‘Black people can never have anything,’” she said.
To date, the video has amassed more than 400,000 views, 75,000 likes and more than 2,700 comments. And there have been cloned videos that have also gone viral — most of which were also negative, according to Perez.
.”

 

[DrBanneker]

Did you know some HBCUs in TX almost all have active Latino recruitment programs? Sorrell at Paul Quinn has talked about his and one of the recent Miss Paul Quinn winners was Latina (and it seems she was wise not to advertise this on Tik Tok).

Texas Southern has a recruitment strategy as well as Huston-Tillotson has already been designated a Hispanic Serving Institution by the Department of Education since it is about 20% Hispanic.

 

[BaggerofTea]

I bet most of commentators are bitter women with no high quality employment prospects

 

[get these nets]

Did you know some HBCUs in TX almost all have active Latino recruitment programs? Sorrell at Paul Quinn has talked about his and one of the recent Miss Paul Quinn winners was Latina (and it seems she was wise not to advertise this on Tik Tok).




Texas Southern has a recruitment strategy as well as Huston-Tillotson has already been designated a Hispanic Serving Institution by the Department of Education since it is about 20% Hispanic.

It's practical for the survival of the institutions.

 

[Vandelay]

Her followers about to jump crazy.

 

[DrBanneker]

Her followers about to jump crazy.

You know she got thirsty brehs all in her DMs right now

 

[KyokushinKarateMan]

As politically incorrect as it may be to say this, I don’t like it.

If this were an HHCU(Historically Hispanic College or University), which I know doesn’t exist, but basically if the roles were reversed, you would NEVER see this level of inclusion. Black students would be treated like sh*t, and they surely wouldn’t win any high positions in the student governing body or whatever.

At the end of the day, this just becomes yet another example of another of our failures at gatekeeping, in my unpopular unTikTok, non New-Black influenced, old school opinion.

 

[invalid]

Have to post bilingual entries for Rate this HBCU profile for Coppin State

What is this "Rate this HBCU" you're referencing?

Did you know some HBCUs in TX almost all have active Latino recruitment programs? Sorrell at Paul Quinn has talked about his and one of the recent Miss Paul Quinn winners was Latina (and it seems she was wise not to advertise this on Tik Tok).

Texas Southern has a recruitment strategy as well as Huston-Tillotson has already been designated a Hispanic Serving Institution by the Department of Education since it is about 20% Hispanic.

I financially support this HBCU in Mississippi in which my father's family has old historic ties. There are not a lot of Hispanics in the area but they recruit a lot of whites who attend night school. During the day it's all black students but at night it's virtually all whites from the local area trying to get their college degrees. They have to recruit others to maintain financial visibility.

As politically incorrect as it may be to say this, I don’t like it.

If this were an HHCU(Historically Hispanic College or University), which I know doesn’t exist, but basically if the roles were reversed, you would NEVER see this level of inclusion. Black students would be treated like sh*t, and they surely wouldn’t win any high positions in the student governing body or whatever.

At the end of the day, this just becomes yet another example of another of our failures at gatekeeping, in my unpopular unTikTok, non New-Black influenced, old school opinion.

From what I understand, she went unapposed, and there were no other candidates.

Additionally, if she is a student of the school, I don't see why she can't fully participate in campus life. She pays her tuition just like everyone else.

A friend of the family was student body president at Mizzou during the Michael Brown incident. He raised hell even calling out the Mizzou president for continued systemic discrimination of the school and he had the backing of the student body.