Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats
by Craig Marberry, Michael Cunningham

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Book Reviews of Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats

Book Review: Praise from a White Woman Who's also a Hat Lover
Summary: 5 Stars

In those days, however, every lady wore a hat to church on Sunday along with her white gloves. I still have a photograph that appeared in our local paper that was taken of my family one Easter Sunday as we were about to enter the First Presbyterian Church of River Forest. My mother was wearing her black and white checked suit, her fox boa, her white gloves and her little black hat with the veil. My three sisters and I were wearing our new Easter dresses and, of course, our new Easter bonnets! Our dad was wearing a hat also because in those days, men always wore hats too.

Nowadays, when I go to church, I am appalled at some of the outfits I see - even blue jeans on some people! In an attempt to bring back the customs of my youth, I started an image and etiquette business a few years ago. I produced a video, 'American Dining and Entertaining Etiquette,' to teach manners for the table. I am happy to say that this video is the top selling etiquette video on Amazon.com.

I lecture nationally and internationally on image and etiquette and when I lecture, I ALWAYS wear a hat! I do this for two reasons. One reason is so that everyone will notice me and know who the speaker is. The other reason is because my wearing a hat is symbolic of a time when a lady was not considered properly attired unless she wore a hat and during this same time, people knew proper etiquette!

I'm truly delighted to learn that black women are keeping up the traditions of their heritage by wearing their beautiful hats on Sunday!

My love of tradition and hat wearing has also resulted in my meeting and befriending my first black girlfriend. Several years ago, I attended a very large charity luncheon in downtown Chicago. In spite of the large number of women at this event, one woman stood out in my mind because of her magnificent hat. I made a point of making my way through the crowd and introducing myself. My friend, Betty Brown, society columnist, fashion plate and hat queen, and I have been friends now for some 20 years drawn together because of our mutual love for hats. Imagine, In fact it was she, Betty, who told me about this delightful book and I am so glad that she did. I am going to recommend it to all my friends and fellow hat lovers.

This is truly a great book; greater I think than the author and photographer could even have known they were producing for this book is not so much about 'hats' but about a proud people that we white people know so very little about. Thank you for this book.

Summary of Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats

Photo Essays Books

• Subjects > Arts & Photography > Photography > Photo Essays
• Portraits
• Biographies & Memoirs > Ethnic & National > African-American & Black
• Health, Fitness & Dieting > Beauty & Fashion
• Social Sciences