February 29, 2008

Exhibition features African-American women's hats

The exhibit, Her Crowning Glory: Hats of the African-American Community, was assembled by Purdue University's Black Cultural Center and is in conjunction with the musical production of "Crowns." The play, which is based on the bestselling book "Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats," is being put on by the BCC and Lafayette Civic Theatre from April 4-6.

The museum exhibit will feature hats of all shapes, sizes, colors and styles. Stories from their owners accompany each hat.

Journalist Craig Marberry, who co-wrote the "Crowns" book with photographer Michael Cunningham, says he was curious why so many African-American women wear flamboyant hats to church. He says he thinks it is rooted in the African tradition that says when "one presents oneself before God ... you should be at your best ... that you should present excellence before the Almighty."

Cunningham and Marberry learned that most women own more than one hat. On average, Marberry says, the 50 women in the book owned 54 hats each.

Cunningham says the hat tradition is especially strong among older women. He photographed many women in their 40s and older for the book, but very few were younger.

"Each hat gives you so much information about the woman who has worn it and her relationship to the church community," said BCC director Renee Thomas. "The exhibition and play show the strong storytelling and musical traditions of African-American culture."

The hat exhibition will be in the Mickey Shook room of the museum, which is located at 102 S. 10th St. in Lafayette. It is free and open to the public. "Crowns" is being performed at the Long Center, 111 N. 6th St. in Lafayette. For ticket information, call (765) 423-7529.

Writer: Greg McClure, (765) 494-9394, gmcclure@purdue.edu

Source: Renee Thomas, (765) 494-3091, rathomas@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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