That time that I decided to cover my hair everyday
“We just know inside that we’re queens. And these are the crowns we wear.” Felecia McMillan
For black women, hair and head coverings come with ample baggage. The relationship between black women and their hair has been a tough road travelled. However, with tenacity and ingenuity held for generations, Black women found a way to make peace with their headwear and feminine glory: the ubiquitous church hat.
For Black Americans, the Sabbath was often a time of respite in an otherwise dreary life. On Sunday, the community was able to come together with families and friends, to take time to praise God, relish in their own space and find spiritual strength for the week to come. Early versions of Black theology focused on the relatability of the passion of Jesus; his unjust conviction, his mockery and his crucifixion. However, as Blacks moved further from slavery, new expressions of faith arose. The Black church tradition, though rooted in slavery, became the crux of Black culture. For women, nothing said church like church hats.
Church hats in all shapes, sizes and colors. Big brims, pillboxes, felt, straw, velvet, plumes, flowers, netting, sequins. Just about anything goes with church hats. The hats may be very expensive, depending upon how ornate they…
