DARK SKIN 16

DARK SKINNED WOMEN 

Reminds me of the way Colored women treated themselves to good times. It is hard to describe their getting ready process, but it always began with assertions, and race pride, and specialized care for the hair and the way a dress, or pants looked on her body. In poorer communities furniture in a house had to convey something intentional and make a man feel welcome and in some homes on edge because the woman needed something more out of her man.

Before a woman went out, or a man who conked his hair went out the last thing to come off was the do-rag. That rag signified. Being hip and cool and on point in arguments Colored folk cared about was as important as having the best .45 collections on the block. Self-worth and identity felt very different during segregation because it was fought for at every level of a person's being everyday. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 8.23.12