by Crystal Brown
Tejano music fans recently recognized the one-year anniversary of the death of their Tejano superstar Selena Quintanilla.
Selena was not only a beautiful singer, she was also a role model.
Selena remained humble throughout her career, choosing to live in the same barrio where she was raised. She also taped public service announcements in English and Spanish encouraging young people to stay in school.
I was in San Antonio visiting my mother when I first heard of Selena's death. Initially, I thought Celine Dion had been murdered. I am not a fan of Tejano music, nor had I ever heard of Selena. As I began to learn about the life and legacy of this extraordinary young woman, I quickly became a Selena fan.
To me, Selena represented a Latina princess. I recall the sorrow in all of the children's eyes as they mourned her death. These children loved her. To them, she was more than the entertainer. She was the light in many of these children's lives.
Selena's death was mocked by many insensitive people, including the self-proclaimed media king, Howard Stern. His off-color remarks angered not only Hispanics, but anyone with any sense of decency.
The lack of respect for Selena puzzles me. This country has always had a fascination with beautiful women. When Marilyn Monroe died, it was not considered strange that thousands of people mourned. Her face continues to grace magazine covers and she even appears on a postage stamp.
I constantly hear people say Selena fans need to get over it and that she was not "all that." Marilyn Monroe was not all that for me. What did she accomplish that merits her to be a national sex symbol other than bedding a U.S. president who happened to be a Kennedy?
Women of color are often considered beautiful but fail to gain mainstream media attention. Josephine Baker was the original boy-toy long before Madonna and Marilyn Monroe hit the stage. Baker was also a philanthropist who not only donated money to charities, but also adopted more than 10 children of various ethnic backgrounds. Her "rainbow" children, as she liked to call them, were a reminder to the world that racial harmony could be achieved through love.
It is ironic that no one complains of the media attention given to Jennifer Aniston's "Rachel" haircut or Pam Anderson's new tattoo or soft drink.
Let's reward women for their outstanding achievements and the lives they touch, rather than their outward beauty, which they had no control over.
External beauty is a perception. Internal beauty is rare and an attribute to be treasured.
Brown is a senior RTV major.