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-- Prairie View, TX April 6
When Damany Mayfield, a sophomore student at Virginia State
University was named Mr. Collegiate African American 2001, in
the 10th Anniversary Pageant recently held in Texas, he began
the rest of his life. Listening to the nay Sayers, “the
rest of his life” is a statement Damany, 21, was not supposed
to hear. You see he is among the three out of four African American
men who are winning against the odds. They are not on drugs nor
in prison, and certainly not in the grave at 21, as others would
have us to believe. Look in the dictionary and next to the definition
of WINNER, is a picture of Damany, and others like him who are
achievers and are making positive contributions to society.
Mayfield, the son of Claude and Johncie Mayfield of Charlotte,
North Carolina, was tops among the elite African American kings
from our nations historically
Black Colleges and Universities who competed in the Mr. Collegiate
African American Scholarship Pageant Program held at Prairie
View A&M University, in Texas. Mayfield’s win is the
second for Virginia State in the pageant’s history; S. Olander
Washington won the title in 1994 as the third Mr. Collegiate.
After five phases of competition, Damany emerged with the
prestigious title to a rousing approval of the audience. From
the onset of the Personal Platform
projection, Damany, with his infectious smile, was a crowd favorite
and stayed consistent throughout the talent, evening wear and
on-stage interview competitions. His magnetic on-stage personality
brought thunderous applause and a connection with the audience.
This personality did not escape the
judges or the other finalists because he won first place in Evening
Wear, the Marcus Garvey On-stage Interview Award, and the Ralph
Bunche Ambassador Award -- a vote of confidence from the candidates.
Jordan Bennett Morgan State University (Baltimore) was first
runner-up and winner of the Frederick Douglas Platform Award,
with Samuel Bailey of
Southwest Christian College (Texas) winning the 2nd runner-up
position on the Mr. Collegiate African American court. Other
candidates were Michael Whitfield of Central State University
(Ohio) who won the W. E. B. Dubois Personal Interview Award,
Terrence Tarver of Langston University (Oklahoma) winner of the
Duke Ellington Talent Award, Michael Henderson of Lincoln University
(Missouri), Dathan Thigpen of Jackson State University (Mississippi)
and Cassio Batteast of Tougaloo College (Mississippi)
Along with the title, Damany receives a cash scholarship and
prizes including several official pageant memorabilia, travel
opportunities, collection of books authored by African Americans,
and other amenities. Mr. Mayfield also receives complimentary
magazine subscriptions to Black College Today, Black
Enterprise, and Ebony magazine. His tenure of service
gives him the opportunity to share his platform on “What
Are We Packing,” which focuses on social and economic empowerment,
to audiences around the country.
In addition to his title as Mr. Virginia State, Damany is
President of the Student Ambassador’s Club, Vice President
of the Junior Class and Resident Assistant. His career ambition
is to work in government and to earn a Law degree. He enjoys
reading books by Black authors, writing poetry and speeches;
and modeling.
Commenting on his selection as Mr. Collegiate African American
2001-02, Damany stated, "The pageant has given me an opportunity
and a forum to help young people, especially young Black men.
The competition was tight and I am pleased that I won the title
but each one of these brothers were just as
deserving of the title. This program has a positive impact on
the community and I will do my best to enhance and promote it
during my tenure.”
The President and Founder of the Program is Frederick V. Roberts,
President of UNITAN Communications, Inc. Roberts created the
pageant in 1991 to educate and celebrate the many positive contributions
of African American men and to
reduce the negative images that are fed to our young people.
The program espouses a belief in individual and group achievement,
and focuses on the
commitment to excellence, and participation of the African American
male in the cause of social and economic empowerment. Asked why
a pageant for African American males, Roberts said, "Since
pageantry is a staple in the American psyche for personal development
and achievement, we chose this medium to recognize our young
men. Realizing that 3 out of 4 African American males are
achieving despite the odds, it is important that we create positive
avenues for them and to change the negative images presented
to the public. These
young men deserve as much honor and respect as we can give them."
The program is reliving the history of pageantry in the African
Diaspora as early
Egyptians used pageantry as a ‘rite of passage’ and
an ascension ceremony for kings and queens. Further, W. E. B.
DuBois produced the “Star of Egypt” pageant in the
twenties for African American men and women who told the story
of the Black cultural and social experiences, and its linkage
to Mother Africa.
After a three-year hiatus, Roberts concluded that this year's
program was successful despite earlier setbacks, because there
were persons willing to see
this important activity continued. He further commented that
the program has survived the formative years and this year’s
finalists provided confidence that the program can survive many
more years. Plans are underway for the 2001 Pageant that will
be a part of a National Conference on the African American Male
to be sponsored by the Mr. Collegiate Program, tentatively set
for March 29 - April 2, 2002 in Jackson, Mississippi.
Aside from the pageant activities, the candidates attended
the Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, visited
the Shrine of the Black Madonna and were guests at the Debra
Duncan Show, Houston’s Number One morning program.
The candidates were also treated to dinner hosted by Jackson
State’s Houston Alumni at the home of Attorney Benjamin
Pigott and toured the Campus of
Prairie View A&M University. Various topics on personal enrichment,
empowerment and community outreach were also addressed during
the program
week
Supporters of this year’s program were UNITAN Communications,
Inc., B & L Licensing - Bill Waller, the 100 Black Men of
Metropolitan Houston, Inc., and members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity,
Inc. and the universities who sponsored a candidate. The judges
were Cathy Harris, Human Resource Manager, Houston Community
College System, Ernestine Carreathers, Owner, Amistad Bookplace,
Kimberly Nicole Williams, Actress and Accountant, Andrea Parks-Wilson,
Sales Associate and Charles W. Lewter, Dean of Chapel, Prairie
View A&M University.
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Mother¹s Day is Sunday, May 13, 2001.
Daughters, sons, husbands, loved ones, and friends, nationwide,
and in various parts of the world, will honor their mothers on
this day set aside to show appreciation and love. DverCITY is
sponsoring its First Annual "Greatest Mom in the World"
Mother¹s Day Contest via their Web site at http://www.dvercity.com/mothers_contest.html.
Everyone is encouraged to spread the word about all the good
things their mothers, mother-in-laws, stepmoms, grandmas, adoptive
moms, sisters, aunts, nieces, and godmothers have done.
Open to all individuals, the deadline for entries is Saturday,
May 5, 2001.
All that is required
to enter is an essay 20 to 500 words about why "mom"
is the greatest. Pictures in JPEG or GIF format are encouraged.
Winners will be selected from entries worldwide in the following
categories: Grand Prize, First Place, Second Place, Third Place,
State and International Honorable Mentions, Best "At-Home"
Mom, Best "Working" Mom, Best Celebrity Mom, Best GrandMa,
Best Stepmom, Best Mother-in-Law, Best Adoptive Mother, and Best
Godmother.
Winners will be posted on the Web site Wednesday, May 9.
Submit to DverCITY.com at contests@dvercity.com,
FAX to 850-402-9826, or write to Contests c/o DverCITY, P.O.
Box 0733, Niceville, FL 32588.
Pictures of the gift prizes are posted on DverCITY¹s
Web site. They include a lovely, "old-fashioned" wooden
wall clock, merry-go-round musical carousel collectible that
plays "Wind Beneath My Wings," a ladies¹ watch,
a metal sculpture, an elaborate candleholder, a gold-plated pen
and pencil set, a marbleized porcelain oil warmer, a silverplated
candelabra, votive candle holders, and spun-glass collectibles.
Co-sponsorship and/or advertising opportunities with other
businesses, organizations, and media are available. Contact Phyllis
Douglass at phyllis@dvercity.com.
Established in 1996, DverCITY is a multi-faceted, diverse
business founded on Christian principles, high ethics/moral standards,
and a drive for excellence in community service. Upon entering
the online community in October 1999, DverCITY expanded its business
ventures, its mission to live up to its name: diversity. For
complete contest details, go to http://www.dvercity.com.
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