For many congregations, theyre more than just an elegant accessory.
“In my church, women only wore three types of hats,” he says.
“Large hats, larger hats, and ‘why’d you have to sit in front of me?’
Credit: Digital Vision.
The pastor’s grandson took the tradition for granted as a boy.
“I realized that church hats weren’t merely fashion accessories,” he says.
“They are an expression of faith, as well as a celebration of fashion.
Every woman has a different and compelling story about what church hats mean to them.”
The tradition of women wearingchurch hatshas its roots in that same biblical scripture.
In 1 Corinthians 11:513, the apostle declares women should cover their heads during worship to honor God.
“But Black women alone have interpreted that edict with singular flair.”
There’s an important cultural element at play, too, he notes.
Hats are one of them.
They became status symbols for the growing Black middle class.
During the Civil Rights Movement, women leaders often marched in their church hats as a symbol of dignity.
And the grander the hat, the better.
They visited a congregation in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he lived at the time.
There, they showed the women some photographs of the otherhat-wearing ladiesset to appear in the book.
One flipped through the photos, seemingly unimpressed.
“I said, ‘What’s wrong?
You don’t like the photographs?'”
“And she said, ‘No, it’s not that.
Those are Baptist hats, honey.'”
“But I won’t lose faith.”
Bible Gateway.1 Corinthians 11 - 21st Century King James Version.
