Yes, Young Black Women Make Their Debuts Too: Examining the History and Impact of Black Debutante Balls
Collage of Black cotillions. Collage by Doriana Diaz.
By Karla Mendez
Writer Karla Mendez explores and critiques the history of debutante balls, what they stand for in Black communities, and questions if there is still a need for them.
Carving Out Space
The concept of social classes isn’t necessarily well-defined. It can be better thought of as subjective, with every individual having their own idea of what qualifications are needed for each class. While the classification can be left to interpretation, many things in the United States are synonymous with upper-class stature. Among these traditions is the debutante ball, a pivotal moment in a young woman’s adolescence, where she is “presented” to American society. Historically, debutantes are catered to White 15-to-16-year-olds from families who can trace their lineage to the establishment of the colonies. Although the history of debutantes can be found nationwide, they are most prevalent in the South. Although the prevailing imagery of debutantes has centered specifically White women, what is often excluded is the presence and history of Black American debutante balls.
As has been common throughout the country’s history, Black Americans have had to carve out space for themselves–and debutante balls were one avenue that allowed them to showcase their achievements that often went overlooked or ignored. It was also an opportunity to interlace their customs and traditions with decidedly American practices.
“The main objectives of Black debutante balls were to uplift the race by dismantling the negative stereotypes assigned to young Black women during this time regarding what they were meant to look, act, speak, and think like.”
Establishing a New Class
Black American debutante balls can be traced back to 1778 in New York, when the first debutante was recorded by a newspaper, with the first official ball occurring in 1895 in New Orleans. Like their White counterparts, Black debutante balls present young girls from Black communities to society. They were encouraged to exemplify good manners, grooming, and social etiquette. But unlike other debutante balls, whose primary goal is to prepare and present young women for marriage, Black debutante balls were deeply concerned with preparing debutantes for the world outside of the protection of their social circles and communities. Within Black communities, the spotlight is placed on education and eligibility for the workforce instead of family name and lineage.
Video credit: Black Herstory: Black Debutante Balls by Vintage in Color.
Additionally, they were meant to present the Black community in a way that was dignified, standing in stark contrast to the societal views and opinions imposed upon them. The main objectives of Black debutante balls were to uplift the race by dismantling the negative stereotypes assigned to young Black women during this time regarding what they were meant to look, act, speak, and think like. When Black newspapers covered debutante balls, they were intentional in the way they presented the young women, utilizing phrases like “a picture of loveliness” and reporting on their attire, making sure to show their elegance. This contradicted the stereotypes that continued to plague Black Americans. Of these stereotypes, none seemed to be more prevalent than that of the Black broken family. By having fathers participate, debutante balls helped Black communities fight against the idea that their families had no male father figures and that women were non-virtuous.
Many debutante balls during the late 19th and early 20th century were funded by social groups such as The Links, Inc., Jack & Jill, the 20th Century Onyx Club, and Black churches. These organizations contributed out of obligation for the education of Black women and to promote high-society culture. When debutante balls began to become standard practice within Black communities, there was an upper class that had started to flourish amongst these communities. Unfortunately, at times, this could breed elitism amongst Black communities and lead to the exclusion of young Black women who did not come from wealthy families and could have benefited from the networking and training debutante balls provided.
How Socioeconomic Differences Curtail Debutante Balls
Black Americans weren’t the only group to adopt the traditions and customs of debutante balls. Mexican Americans in the border town of Laredo, Texas, also organized their own debutante balls such as the Society of Martha Washington Colonial Pageant and Ball, part of a month-long celebration in honor of George Washington’s birthday. The debutantes, nicknamed Las Marthas, are of Mexican descent and from working-class families who see their debutante balls as a rite of passage. Their dresses take a year to make, can weigh up to 100 pounds, and cost up to $30,000, which is close to the median annual income of families in Laredo, revealing the vast socioeconomic differences between the cultures.
“When we are constantly surrounded by images of women that fit into these boxes of beauty that our society has designed, are we doing more harm to young Black women by having them engage in practices that tell them the way they look or act needs to be changed?”
These socioeconomic differences can be further explored in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and its impact on the debutante balls of young Black women. While in the past, participants may have primarily stemmed from upper-class families, in recent years, young Black women from middle-class families have been presented to society through organizations like the Original Illinois Club. These clubs and organizations have provided funding to families that have given young Black women the opportunity to participate in debutante balls and the community and confidence building that comes with the experience. The destruction of Hurricane Katrina, unfortunately, swept away the opportunity for young Black women to make their debut, as the organizations they had previously relied on suffered financially. This is in stark contrast to their White counterparts, who despite also losing their homes and belongings, were still able to partake in their balls.
Collage of participants of Black cotillions. Art by Doriana Diaz.
It’s Not All Good
It can be argued that debutante balls were and continue to be a way to challenge the Euro-centric beauty standards in our society. In making their debut, young Black women are representing Black female beauty and arguing against the way that it is typically portrayed. For other young girls, it is crucial that they have depictions of Black beauty and are not consistently surrounded by a narrow set of beauty ideals.
And while Black debutante balls may challenge these beauty standards, we can not gloss over the ways in which they can and do substantiate respectability politics and uphold White, European beauty standards that are destructive to the psyche of young Black women. Regarding respectability politics, when we encourage young Black women to partake in debutante balls, are we perpetuating the idea that there is a way they are meant to behave and a path they are supposed to take to be accepted by society?
The contemporary understanding of respec respectability politics is defined as the belief that in acting a specific way or presenting yourself in a specific manner (often mirroring the dominant group in society) you will be viewed as reputable and will in turn be accepted or valued more. It wouldn’t be a stretch to state that by prescribing to or encouraging the participation of young Black women in an event deeply rooted in Euro-American beauty ideals, we are subliminally promoting the adoption of those standards. When we are constantly surrounded by images of women that fit into these boxes of beauty that our society has designed, are we doing more harm to young Black women by having them engage in practices that tell them the way they look or act needs to be changed?
Additionally, we have to look at the way debutante balls support heteronormativity or the assumption that everyone is heterosexual. Historically, balls have provided etiquette training and instruction on societal morals. This has in the past translated to teaching young women things like how to keep a home, be a good host, and raise children, all things that society tends to associate with femininity. Further, debutantes are traditionally accompanied by their fathers who then present them to their male escort. This tradition not only promotes heteronormativity but is also symbolic of the patriarchal notion that young women must go from their father’s homes to being under their husbands.
Do We Still Need Debutante Balls?
Debutante balls are certainly not a thing of the past. While opponents of debutante balls may view them as archaic concepts and wonder why they are still organized, for young Black women, it provides them with the chance to engage in exercises that build and improve social skills and promote the importance of education and community engagement. As mentioned, Black Americans have time and time had to carve out spaces within American society in which they could freely practice traditions and customs, and debutante balls extended these spaces for young Black women.
Every year, hundreds of young girls embark on their training, culminating in being presented to society. They’re still concerned with the same etiquette lessons of the past, but is there a place for them in today's world? It can be argued that debutante balls continue to contribute many positives to communities and their participants. It encourages self-esteem and morality in young Black women and integrates community service into the training. Debutante balls also promote bonding and friendship, providing young women with the opportunity to socialize. These all continue the practice of ensuring that debutantes are prepared to engage with the world outside of their communities. In a world that attempts to tear down women, especially Black women, and invalidate and devalue their accomplishments, events like debutante balls aim to empower each generation.
Karla Mendez (she/her) is currently a student at Brown University, pursuing a master’s in American Studies. She recently graduated from the University of Central Florida, where she majored in Interdisciplinary Studies with a double minor in Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies. Her research interests include Black feminist histories and movements, Black American literature, Black and Latina cultural productions, and social structures. When she isn’t studying, she fills up her time with books. She also enjoys watching 90s and early 00s films, drawing, and journaling. You can follow her on Instagram at @kmmendez. You can follow her on Instagram at @kmmendez.