The 2002 Mr. Black MSU pageant has been canceled after being plagued by a lack of participation.
Members of Black Student Alliance held informational meetings, contacted student leaders and sent e-mail and applications to potential candidates, but received little response.
The event began in 2000 as a showcase for black male students exhibiting leadership, strong academic standing and significant involvement in the black community.
Last year, more than 300 people attended the ceremony, which featured five candidates competing in four categories: a video interview, talent, modeling and a judge’s interview.
DeJuan Lever, 2001 Mr. Black MSU runner-up, said although he decided not to participate this year, he was disappointed to hear the event was canceled. Alliance members hope to reinstate the program in the future.
“It’s a tragedy that it happened because it displays a lot of talents of positive African Americans on campus, which is rarely seen in today’s society,” the supply chain management sophomore said. “There are so many negative stigmas and it gives them the opportunity to display talent and show the world not all African Americans are gangbangers and in jail doing bad things.”
But Lever, who also is a racial ethnic student aide, said he was pleased to have had the chance to participate in the event.
“It was an honor in itself to be nominated as a freshman,” he said. “This year, I got an application, but I didn’t have any intentions to participate. I think it should be continued. It’s hard for African-American males to be successful this day and age.”
John Johnson, the alliance’s vice president, said he thinks there is a need for the event, and hopes the cancellation isn’t permanent.
“I think there was an essential need for one because there is a lack of male leadership, and we wanted to present black males in a positive manner so we weren’t just viewed as basketball players,” the communication senior said.
Johnson said after the group’s efforts during the last two years, he would have liked to see the ceremony go on.
“You can only do so much to get people to participate,” he said. “Hopefully, they will pick it up next year. I hope the person who wins will play an active role in the black community in terms of leadership and being a role model for freshmen and sophomores. They should make it bigger and more well-known and move it to the next step so more people participate.”
