Rating: 
Summary: A Very Special Book
Review: I am a white middle-aged male. I saw a piece about this book, photographer, and author on the TV show, "Sunday Morning" and was fascinated with the concept.
As a youth growing up in Columbus, Ohio, in the 60's, I was a member of my church's group "Travelling Freshmen," and we visited many different churches every other Sunday. Even back then, I was fascinated by the experience of the black church.
If you are able to read this book without a few tears forming, there is something wrong with you. These Ladies in this book are truly engaging and this is a wonderful read.
I have the privelege of working in a call center in Jacksonville, Florida with many African-American Ladies who also show the same depth of character as the ladies in this wonderful book. I highly recommend this wonderful book as an easy read, but one that will have a truly profound affect on you!
Rating:
Summary: Insight into why "We" wear hats!!! It's me all over!!!
Review: I am called the "Hat Lady". I relate to the queens in the book. In fact, some of the ladies made comments that I found to be very profound, i.e, wearing a hat in a coffin. I wear hats and love them. Like the ladies, when I put on a hat I stand taller, walk with a strut, and feel I am invincible. It's something about a hat that seems to add to my stature. "Crowns" gives a lot of insight into why we look so good in hats. It's true it's all about attitude and self-esteem. I try to wear them at all times. "Crowns" is relative. I felt so good about myself after reading it. The queens really put hats in their proper perspective in relation to African-American women. I always get a compliment like, "Girl, you're wearing that hat" from one of my sisters and from strangers I hear, "That's a bad hat you got on." (Mostly males) Several times I saw myself in those. I smiled and shook my head at the comments. It is a story that needed to be told. I commend the author & photographer, for I found no fault with "Crowns". A good read.
Rating:
Summary: Insight into why "We" wear hats!!! It's me all over!!!
Review: I am called the "Hat Lady". I relate to the queens in the book. In fact, some of the ladies made comments that I found to be very profound, i.e, wearing a hat in a coffin. I wear hats and love them. Like the ladies, when I put on a hat I stand taller, walk with a strut, and feel I am invincible. It's something about a hat that seems to add to my stature. "Crowns" gives a lot of insight into why we look so good in hats. It's true it's all about attitude and self-esteem. I try to wear them at all times. "Crowns" is relative. I felt so good about myself after reading it. The queens really put hats in their proper perspective in relation to African-American women. I always get a compliment like, "Girl, you're wearing that hat" from one of my sisters and from strangers I hear, "That's a bad hat you got on." (Mostly males) Several times I saw myself in those. I smiled and shook my head at the comments. It is a story that needed to be told. I commend the author & photographer, for I found no fault with "Crowns". A good read.
Rating:
Summary: Insight into why "We" wear hats!!! It's me all over!!!
Review: I am called the "Hat Lady". I relate to the queens in the book. In fact, some of the ladies made comments that I found to be very profound, i.e, wearing a hat in a coffin. I wear hats and love them. Like the ladies, when I put on a hat I stand taller, walk with a strut, and feel I am invincible. It's something about a hat that seems to add to my stature. "Crowns" gives a lot of insight into why we look so good in hats. It's true it's all about attitude and self-esteem. I try to wear them at all times. "Crowns" is relative. I felt so good about myself after reading it. The queens really put hats in their proper perspective in relation to African-American women. I always get a compliment like, "Girl, you're wearing that hat" from one of my sisters and from strangers I hear, "That's a bad hat you got on." (Mostly males) Several times I saw myself in those. I smiled and shook my head at the comments. It is a story that needed to be told. I commend the author & photographer, for I found no fault with "Crowns". A good read.
Rating:
Summary: Hats on.
Review: I first heard about this book on a Sunday Morning before putting on my own "Crown" and leaving for church. After hearing about this book, I ran out to buy it and sat down on that same Sunday and read the book from cover to cover. This is a wonderful book with exciting history about why we black women take pride not only in ourself, but how we praise God to his highest.
Rating:
Summary: Go get this book, NOW!!
Review: I first heard about this book on the CBS Sunday Morning program, telecast just before Christmas 2000 (write to CBS for a copy of that tape, if you missed it. It features the book's authors and some of the women they photographed. You won't regret it!) I fought Christmas crowds to go to the nearest bookstore to see it firsthand. I was blown away! I'm getting to "that age" when the mothers of the church are wondering when Miss Esteen's girl is finally going to start wearing hats to church. This book is pushing me closer to that day! Don't let the fact that the photos are in black & white, not color, deter you from buying this book. In a lot of ways, the black & white photography helps bring out the true beauty; I think color photography might have actually been a distraction from that. The only thing more beautiful than the hats in this book are the women that are wearing them! Pride, dignity and strength are on each page. If it were only about fashion, I wouldn't recommend this book so highly; it's the women who wear the hats, their spirit and their thoughts and that make this book. To the ladies photographed, I have only one thing to say: I want to be just like you when I grow up!
Rating:
Summary: "We know inside that we're queens, and hats are the crowns "
Review: I live in Atlanta and for years I have driven by African-American Churches getting out on Sunday morning. When I pass these churches I often slow down and gaze at the uniquely dressed women coming out the doors -- all dressed to the nines, and most of them are wearing their crowns. For the African-American churchgoing women hats are not mere fashion statements they are integral expression of faith and cultural identity. The Apostle Paul should be thanked daily by all milliners for Paul furthered the fashion of wearing hats to church by writing "Every woman who prays or prophecies with her head unveiled dishonors her head" (I Cor. 11:5).The hats in this book are as unique and alive as the women that wear them. Michael Cunningham, using black & white film, has beautifully captured the panache that these women and their chapeau's express. Just as every hat in this book has a woman, so every woman in this book has a story about her hats, and I think you will love their stories. This is a refreshing, original book that is not only is captivating but anthropological educational. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: My pick for Christmas 2000
Review: I love this book! Michael Cunningham's photographs are stunning. and Craig Marberry's interviews brings these elegrant women to life. This book will definitedly become a favorite that I will return to over and over again.
Rating:
Summary: Praise from a White Woman Who's also a Hat Lover
Review: I really enjoyed reading, 'Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats,' not only because it was delightful to see the beautiful photographs of elegant black women in their Sunday hats but also because the stories that each woman told gave me a real insight into the black culture of our country. I grew up in an all white suburb of Chicago in the early 1950's. The only black person I was acquainted with in those days was our housekeeper, Julia. I never asked her if she wore a hat to church on Sunday but she was a very proud and regal sort of woman, so I am sure that she did. 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.
Rating:
Summary: White female churchgoer
Review: I received this book as a Christmas present and am more than delighted. I also wear a hat each Sunday and understand "hattitude"! The presentations in black and white are enchanting and the perfect choice to emphasize the beauty of each woman under her crown. The interviews are compelling. This is a gem.
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