Black History Series Vol. 1

BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN FULL EFFECT!! This year, I did something a little different. Each week, I featured a different person or group who has significantly impacted our history. And—because I’m me—I also be shared a note on their FASHUN! Recapping for you here on the blog!

Tuskegee Airmen! These men were the first black military aviators in the U.S. Army Air Corps. In 1938, President Roosevelt expanded the civilian pilot training program; however, armed forces were still segregated at the time. Military authorities thought black soldiers were inferior to whites and would not be able to maintain in battle. Black newspapers and the NAACP lobbied for black men to be included in the pilot training program and in September 1940, Roosevelt announced the training program would be extended to blacks. These valiant men, fighting for a country that did not view or treat them as equal, trained at the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama. They flew over 15,000 sorties during WWII and earned more than 150 Distinguishing Flying Crosses. They lost significantly fewer battles than did their white counterparts, proving they were indeed capable. Their participation in the war was a pivotal step in what ultimately led to the integration of U.S. armed forces.

FASHION FOOTNOTE: The flight jacket was originally designed by the Aviation Clothing Board in 1917. Initially, cockpits were open; allowing pilots to be wet and cold. The jacket was structured accordingly. As cockpit conditions improved, the flight jacket evolved to have several iterations. I am wearing what would have been the B-3 and B-6 versions of this jacket. They arrived a bit later on the scene with fleece collars in tow. They were bulky sheepskin jackets with lining that kept pilots warm at high altitudes. Worn from 1934-1943, those renditions of the flight jacket are the origin points of the bomber jackets we all love and wear today!

FLAPPERS!! Would the 1920s have really roared without them?! During this era—serving as a portion of my beloved Harlem Renaissance—flappers identified as young single women who wore their hair and hem lines just a little bit shorter. They had a high dose of femininity with desire to break down gender barriers to match. Women worked and earned wages during World War I and were not necessarily ready to give up that independence during peace time. Instead of following the traditional married with children track, many embraced their sexuality, engaged in city life activities, and frequented jazz clubs where they could dance all night! Josephine Baker and Florence Mills were among the most famous black flappers and notably put the Charleston dance (song written by black composer James P. Johnson) on the map. Independence and liberation from the norm? I’m here for it ladies!

FASHION FOOTNOTE: Flapper dresses were designed to be straight and with loose silhouettes. Skirts were just below the knee and flashed plenty of leg when a woman walked. And when that woman danced?? The loose dress or skirt would flap up to show her legs! Lower necklines were the name of the game and women traded corsets and sensible shoes for lingerie and high heels!

WOMEN ON THE MOVE!! So often, we discuss the men who were the forerunners of the Civil Rights Movement. The ladies absolutely held it down too! Fannie Lou Hamer who co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and demanded the African American vote; Dorothy Height who was a key organizer in the March on Washington and fought for more opportunities for black women; Daisy Bates who fought for integration of public schools in Arkansas and served as the driving force for the Little Rock Nine; Septima Poinsette Clark—the Mother of the American Civil Rights Movement—who started citizenship schools that taught literacy so more black people could register to vote; Dianne Nash who joined SNCC and was on the front lines for Freedom Rides in an attempt to desegregate public transportation; Coretta Scott King who impacted environmental and nuclear policy, led in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and helped lead the Poor People’s Campaign; Joann Robinson who distributed over 50,000 flyers after Rosa Parks’s arrest to galvanize the Montgomery Bus Boycott. These women are often hidden in the annals of history, but their contributions are undeniable. I celebrate them today and everyday.

FASHION FOOTNOTE: 1960’s fashion was cloaked within femininity and bold colors! My fave! The full skirt and tight bodice were all the rage in the 1950’s and made their way into the early 60’s. Necklines were plain and modest; accompanied by capped sleeves. Pearls were the perfect accessory and pillbox hats the impeccable adornment. This decade permeated with classic style.

ALL BLACK EVERYTHANG!! Let’s tell the truth about the Black Panthers, mkay?! The Black Panther Party was founded in 1966 by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale in Oakland, California. They did so in the wake of the assassination of Malcolm X and the police murder of unarmed black teen, Matthew Johnson. Their original intent was to monitor police activities and protect blacks from police brutality in Oakland and neighboring cities. They would arrive armed to scenes where blacks were being arrested and police the police to ensure there was no brutality. They were built on a ten point plan which included demands for freedom, housing, education, and employment. While the media often portrayed the Black Panthers as a dangerous and violent gang, they worked to insist more blacks be elected to office. The created social programs that provided free breakfast to school age children and free health clinics to African Americans across the U.S. The FBI ultimately viewed the Black Panthers as a threat to security and worked to undermine their internal relationships and social programs. The party officially dissolved in 1982.

FASHION FOOTNOTE: Newton and Seale decided on blue shirts, black pants, black leather jackets, and black berets as the uniform. It represented the militant nature of the party. Members wore their natural afros unapologetically. These visual representations were monumental for the Black is Beautiful Movement! I love a sleek black look…and if I had been around…we would have definitely added fur to the collar!

xoxo,

Anya

Photos by Tina Smith