Here is your vicarious invite to the belated fashion show portion of our Juneteenth Pageant that I had the pleasure of emceeing and creative directing.
Welcome brothers and sisters to this liberation celebration! Repeat after me in James Brown fashion : SAY IT LOUD, IM BLACK AND IM PROUD!!!!!
Commentary from the show:
*DJ Plays Young, Gifted, and Black x Nina Simone*
“Fashion, art, music and politics have always converged in history. Gazing upon fashion, whether looking through magazines or old photographs, you can determine the zeitgeist, or “spirit of the times.” When it comes to black fashion I can’t help but call it the “Soul” of the times.
I would like to give flowers to some of the figures and movements that championed Black America. I would like to give flowers to Pat Cleveland, Beverly Johnson. and Naomi Campbell; Elizabeth Keckley, Dapper Dan, and Ruth E Carter; Vanessa Williams and Kenya Moore; the Harlem Renaissance and Black Arts Movement; Ebony Fashion Fair and Harlem Fashion Row; Nina Simone, Curtis Mayfield, and James Brown, the Civil Rights Movement and the Black is Beautiful Movement. The list is everlasting.
We all are here to celebrate Juneteenth that’s coming up in just nine days; but can we acknowledge that just 8 days after Juneteenth ,on the 27th , the Crown Act was passed in 2019. The Crown Act is a law which prohibits discrimination based on hairstyle and hair texture and it is the perfect juxtaposition to the Tignon laws in 1786 which forced free Black women to cover their hair with a headscarf. This law was enforced to further relate the free black women to the enslaved women. Do you think the Tignon law stopped the regalness of these women? Now we know how black people are; we literally turn rags to riches. This law that was used to minimize black women, metamorphosed into a silent rebellion, showcasing luxe and beauty.
Black women used colorful, expensive fabrics and tied them with ornate knots, and decorated their head scarves with feathers and jewels. The tignon style was ironically but not surprisingly adopted by the established white women, exemplifying the “Trickle Up Fashion Theory”, which believes that trends flow from lower classes to upper classes. But let's be real, black people in general are the true trendsetters.
This fashion show is a celebration of black people’s ability to turn lemons into sweet lemonade, revert straight tresses to coily afros, and turn shackles into fabulous gold cuffs. God blessed the African-diaspora. “God Bless Miss Black America”’
*DJ Plays Miss Black America x Curtis Mayfield*
First tonight, we’ll take a trip down memory lane, to the 1960s, when girls dressed up for just about everything – church, school, and backyard parties. Our first model is McKenley in a lovely white formal with white gloves; a nod to a time when being lady-like started at a young age. White is a color that is associated with peace. McKenley’s white dress is the perfect display of the peaceful protests in the 1960s, that were encouraged by Martin Luther King.McKenley enjoys rocking her beautiful crown of natural hair and loves drawing, painting, and gymnastics. And she is already a budding fashionista who knows how to accessorize . She is truly Young, Gifted , and Black. Let’s hear it for McKenley.
Here comes Shy radiating in a stunning red lace dress. Can we get a little commotion for the dress? Red is a color that represents courage, strength, and power; which describes our ancestors to a T. Red is the most vibrant color in the Pan African flag, also known as the Marcus Garvey flag, and visually symbolizes the blood shed by our African Ancestors. The Pan African flag was designed to represent the African Diaspora and black freedom; very fitting for Juneteenth. Shy is rocking her braids tonight. In ancient times, braid patterns and hairstyles were indications of ones wealth, marital status, ethnicity, age, & religion.
Cornrows were a sign of resistance for slaves. Did you know they used them as maps to escape from slavery? They would hide rice or seeds into their braids as a source of food on their journey. We can already tell that Shy is a future leader and her ancestors are very proud! Lets have a round of applause for Shy! And Give it up for our future “Miss Black Americas”
*DJ Plays Move on Up x Curtis Mayfield*
Now let’s celebrate Black Elevation. These looks are a representation of our people “Movin on Up” like the Jeffersons in the 70’s and 80’s. Let’s welcome Justice to the stage. Justice is wearing an Antionette Richardson original. Can you believe a men’s shirt was transformed into this masterpiece?! She looks like she’s ready to go to a dorm party at Hillman College. This outfit is truly in “A Different World”, pun intended. Tonight we’re celebrating freedom; and because of laws like the Crown Act, black girls like Justice are free to rock their natural hair in any setting. Look how beautiful her natural hair is!
*DJ Plays Touch The Sky (Instrumental) x Kanye West*
Sadie:
Now let’s salute to Afrofuturism and Black Future Month. The term” Afrofuturism” was coined by Mark Derry in 1993. It is the expression of blackness, black struggles and black ideas, through the imagining of new, hopeful and advanced futures. Representing the future of black fashion is our featured designer Michelle Collins-Windle. Michelle is a Jacksonville-based designer and celebrity stylist that designs Afro-centric looks using bold patterns and geometric designs and gives authentic, traditional African fabric a modern, unique flare. Michele truly designs for the future.
Celebrity Designer Michelle Collins Windle and Yours truly
Let's see what Marryonia is wearing, Marryonia is wearing a clever blue and pink number, that pairs perfectly with her pop of pink locks. Marryeonia is rocking her fabulous locks. Dreadlocks represent a renewed sense of pride in African physical characteristics and blackness.
Here comes Marryeonia’s sister Trinity. Trinity is a natural supermodel. She is emulating the infamous supermodel Alek Wek, who is well respected for her influence on the perception of beauty in the fashion industry. Trinity’s ensemble is a true representation of the Pan African colors, showcasing green, red and yellow like the Ghana and Cameroon flags. Its truly giving Motherland! What an amazing print and traditional African headwrap.
We have another sister act, Mia and Shanel. Mia is looking very regal in her hijab, is an Arabian woman’s crown. She looks absolutely stunning with this floor length skirt, and matching headwrap to go with Michelle’s edgy twist to a baby doll top. And her sister Shanel is rocking her crown of natural curls. Look at the amazing abstract floral textile print on her maxi skirt and top! And peep the denim sleeves! Michele truly put her foot in these designs!
Thank you beautiful ladies!! And thank you to everyone who showed up virtually xoxo. I hope you enjoyed the show and the tunes!
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