Posted: Mon 11 Aug 2008 02:40 Post subject: Mixed-race Rose of Tralee contestant
Quote:
Mixed-race Rose contestant snubs racist websites
Ken Sweeney
London Rose Belinda Brown: proud of her ancestry
A mixed-race contestant who is competing in this year's Rose of Tralee says she has no fears about travelling to Ireland to take part in the contest despite a series of racist remarks made against her on a website.
London Rose Belinda Brown (25) has been targeted by users of race hate website Stormfront.org since being selected in Cricklewood last month.
Born in Jamaica but raised in Ahoghill, Co Antrim, Irish-based racists have questioned Brown's right to compete in the beauty pageant because of her mixed-race parentage.
"This mixed female is indeed no Rose of Tralee," posted one member, War Maiden, on the site. "Last time I checked our women were pale-skinned maidens from our Emerald Isle, not some mud from London."
Another, with the name White Patriot, wrote: "The London entrant for this year's Rose of Tralee is a half caste mongrel. What the hell are the organisers thinking of? Whites who mix with blacks shouldn't be surprised when they get treated like animals themselves. They are traitors to their race, culture and family. We have no sympathy for them."
However in an interview with the Sunday Tribune, Belinda Brown said she was proud of her mixed-race ancestry and said she had no fears about travelling to Tralee for the contest which takes place in Kerry from 22-26 August.
"I haven't asked for any extra security and I won't be worried while I'm in Tralee because I know what these people have been saying is not indicative of what Irish people thinking as a whole. I know that statements have been posted on a website but I have not even seen them and have no intention of looking for them. This is a random few who don't seem to have anything to say other than that.
"I suppose everyone is entitled to their opinion but these people were clearly very misinformed about me to say that I'm not Irish when I clearly am." She claims to have been surprised about the racist remarks because she never encountered any racism growing up in Co Antrim.
"We had our own issues in the North of Ireland during those years but thankfully they didn't have anything to do with race. In fact the race thing was never focused on. I have a mixed heritage and am equally proud of both parts of it."
However she said moving to London three years ago, where she now works as a receptionist, race and her Irishness had been called into question. "Racism and bigotry are not specific to Ireland, it is everywhere.
"These types of people find something to pick on everyone. People often look at me and do not place me as Irish at first sight, but that's what I am. I don't feel the need to prove that to anyone. I don't wake up and tell myself that is what I am, it is just a part of me. In fact I'm not really sure you can define modern Irishness as it is so varied now. It's in lots of things, the love of my people, of the music and of the country."
The London Rose begins her visit to Ireland on 17 August, when she and 30 other Roses begin a nationwide tour which includes stops in Dublin and Wexford.
Here's another mixed race Rose of Tralee, the winner of the 1998 contest.
My Irish mother-in-law sent me a magazine clipping years ago.
The 19998 Rose of Tralee winner was Luzveminda O'Sullivan.
Her first name being a combination of the 3 major islands of the Philippines-Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. She majored in biochemistry at Trinity College, Dublin. She is currently married and works in her field.
After her win she donated some of her winnings to an African charity based in Ireland. At that time she also planned to visit her maternal Filipino relatives. (This information was from my mother-in-law's article.)
Here are other articles:
Quote:
Luzveminda O'Sullivan
1998
Luzveminda O'Sullivan originally hailed from Castlebar was the Mayo Rose in 1998. She has now sucessfully completed her studies in biochemistry at University College Dublin and is now employed in that city.
She marries Patrick Munnelly, also from Castlebar on August 31st and we wish them both the very best of luck in their life together.
Castlebar's Rose of Tralee gets great welcome
By Christy Loftus
Twenty-one years old Luzveminda O'Sullivan from Riverdale Court in Castlebar has been crowned Mayo's first ever Rose of Tralee. The Trinity College biochemistry student outshone a bunch of thirty "Roses" from all over the world to walk off with the much coveted title.
Before a television audience of almost a million Luzveminda charmed the jury, which included former Rose of Tralee presenter Gay Byrne to win the Waterford Crystal trophy, a Shannon cruise and a cash prize of £3,000. She has also been offered a modelling contract.
For her moment of glory-as she was crowed-she was joined on stage by her sprightly eight-six years old grandmother Mrs Joan O'Sullivan from Ballycroy.
Luzveminda gets her unusual christian name from her mother, a Filipino woman who married her father Sean and with whom they had five children. When Luzveminda was ten years old her mother died leaving her to carry out many of the chores associated with running a household and raising children.
The road to the Rose title started in Westport. Her father persuaded her to enter the Westport Lions Club preliminary competition which she won before going on to Galway where she earned the title Galway Rose and from there to triumph in Tralee.
The newly crowned Rose received a tumultuous reception when she arrived back in Castlebar at the weekend. A huge crowd of friends and well wishers joined a motorcade from the O'Sullivan home through Staball, Lucan Street, Main Street, Castle Street, Spencer Street, MacHale Road, on to the new road and into Chapel Street before arriving at the Welcome Inn where the Town Band provided a rousing musical welcome.
The website below Saturday Night with Miriam has asn interview with the 1959, 1998 (Luzveminda), and 2007 Rose of Tralee Winners.
You need RealPlayer to watch it.
Some journal work relating to her field of study below.
Insights Into the Mode of Action of the Anti-Candida Activity of 1,10-Phenanthroline and its Metal Chelates
Malachy McCann,1 Majella Geraghty,1 Michael Devereux,2 Denis O'Shea,2 James Mason,3 and Luzveminda O'Sullivan3
1Chemistry Department, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Maynooth, Co.m, Kildare, Ireland
2Dublin Institute of Technology, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin, Ireland
3Biochemistry Department, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
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