Hats Hold Historical Significance For Black Women (3729 hits)
By NNPA
As singer Aretha Franklin stood in front of soon to be sworn in U.S. President Barack Obama and dignitaries gathered during the Inauguration Ceremony, Jan. 20, the gray felt hat she wore, accented with a huge bow and outlined in Swarovski crystals, was as captivating for some as was her voice that beautifully delivered her gospel-style rendition of, “My Country ‘tis of Thee.”
Denise Jordon, managing editor of an African-American newspaper, The Kansas City Globe, who is also known for wearing hats, said despite some distasteful attempts at mocking Franklin’s hat by some television comedians eager to draw a laugh, she was glad to see the nation’s “Queen of Soul,” represent those who love hats and who know how and when to wear them.
Besides making a great fashion statement, hats have been worn by many Black women down through the ages, including women of prominence and great stature. And Franklin is no exception.
Historically, Black women during slavery, wore scarves, straw hats or other forms of millinery to protect them from the hot sun or from weather’s elements as they worked in the fields and on plantations. And, in preparation for Sunday morning, those same women could still muster enough energy in the wee hours on Saturday nights to weave and sculpt with their tired and worn hands, a beautiful hat or “crown” to top off their “Sunday go to meeting attire.” Back in the day, it was unusual for black women not to have a hat on during church service or when attending a formal ceremony or public meeting. This was done as a sign of respect.
For many women and particularly Black women, hats hold a special meaning and should also inspire, according to Jordon, who was once quoted saying in a newspaper feature about women and hats, “Hats can make you feel like a million dollars, even if you don’t have a dime.”
As a hobby and as a personal tribute to her late mother who always looked good in hats, Jordon began six years ago, drawing her own renditions of hats and women in hats. She said nearly two years ago, during the Presidential primary campaign, she was so inspired by the presidential candidacy of then Sen. Barack Obama and his message of hope that she created what she called her “hope hat” and sent cards to her friends. She also took one of the cards along with her to a campaign rally and managed to pull some strings to get it personally autographed by Obama who is now the first African-American president of the United States. Her “hope hat” illustration entitled, “Flying High,” depicts a fashionably dressed woman donning a huge red and white hat that points upward as if she is about to take flight. On the front of the card it reads, “Hope” and contains the biblical passage, “Those who hope in the Lord, will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” –Isaiah 40:31 NIV.
Jordon said she is pleased to see more high end fashion designers promoting hats as a must have accessory in the general market place.
“There is a hat for every woman who wants to wear one, but like anything else, one should make sure the hat is worn to accent and not overpower the person. Worn tastefully, hats will always make a great statement.”
