The Miss Black Alabama USA Scholarship Pageant is in association with the national Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant, which was founded in 1986 by Karen Arrington.
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History
The Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant is a national scholarship competition for young women of African descent that was founded in 1986 by Karen Arrington. The Miss Black USA Pageant is a non-profit corporation in the state of Maryland, recognized under the 501(c)3 code of the Internal Revenue Service, awarding scholarships for college and graduate school to young women of color between the ages of 18 and 27. Its mission is to provide educational opportunities to outstanding young women of color and to develop the "whole woman mind, body, and spirit. In 2007, over eighty percent of the contestants were pursuing graduate or professional degrees. Each year, a winner is selected to serve as "Miss Black USA" for one year and receives an academic scholarship.
The Miss Black Alabama USA title became widely known when Miss Arnecia Bradley held the title in 2007. The 2007 Delegates took "A Royal Journey Back to Our Roots" and traveled to the Republic of the Gambia, West Africa in May 2007.
State Pageants
Each year, state competitions are held across the nation including Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington. The Miss Black USA organization licenses the state pageants. Women from areas where a state pageant is not held may apply as a delegate-at-large.
Scholarship
Miss Black U.S.A. Pageant celebrates scholastic achievement and believes that education is the key to lifelong success and empowerment. The Miss Black USA Pageant promotes education and leadership by providing scholarships opportunities to its winners.
Community service
The Miss Black USA Pageant is a community driven organization and is committed to addressing health and education, two leading social issues in the African American community. Each winner of the official "Miss Black USA" state pageant will use her civic platform to promote awareness of these issues during her reign.