hat tip-Pragmatic Obots Unite:

Ole Miss crowns first African-American homecoming queen – 50 years after the university ended segregation
By James Nye
PUBLISHED: 09:50 EST, 13 October 2012 | UPDATED: 23:44 EST, 13 October 2012

Fifty-years ago Courtney Roxanne Pearson would not have been allowed to enroll at the University of Mississippi because she was black let alone think of becoming the first African-American homecoming queen of Ole Miss.

But today the 21-year-old senior English education student from Memphis is preparing for her historic crowning during the halftime ceremonies when Ole Miss faces off against Auburn University at the university football stadium.

‘I am still in shock, but I am definitely very excited,’ said Pearson who beat Ashleigh Davis for the chance to wear the crown 1,477 votes to 1,387 in a victory for the University of Mississippi’s reputation in race relations.

‘It couldn’t have come at a better time,’ added Pearson, who considers her victory a landmark for Ole Miss which commemorated the 50th anniversary of the admission of James Meredith, their first African-American student, which set off rioting at the southern college.

Homecoming Queen Courtney Pearson, right, is escorted by her father Commander Kerri Pearson during halftime of an NCAA college football game between Mississippi and Aubuen

I LOVED this comment by Miranda: sums up how I felt looking at the pics from this story:

Miranda
Collapse Expand I’m not gonna lie….this chile gave me so much life this morning! Oh Lawd I wish I could have been one of those folks I know who was serving drinks in one of the sky boxes to the bigtime alumni! I wish I could have been there when this beautiful round chocolate look just like she could be Minnie’s daughter from “The Help” , every drop of her had me grinning! Wearing this WHITE southern BELLE dress with a tiara on, walking on the field of OLE MISS with her BLAAA-AAACCKKK DADDY who is a military officer in his crisp white jacket. Oh this gives me LIFE!!!!!!!!!!! OOOOOOOOWEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!