By Don Valentine
Debutante is French, and it means female beginner. It was a young lady’s introduction to “Polite Society.” The first debutante ball in the world was Queen Charlotte’s Ball in Britain in 1780, held by King George III in honor of his wife’s birthday. For the English aristocracy this practice was used to announce a young woman’s marriageability to eligible bachelors.
The first Black debutante balls to be recorded by a newspaper were originally called “Ethiopian Balls.” The wives of free Black men serving in the Royal Ethiopian Regiment would mingle with the wives of British soldiers. Black America’s first official debutante ball took place in 1895 in New Orleans. Three decades after the Civil War, this was a perfect setting to showcase the bespoke refined side of our community.
Renowned historian, Taylor Bythewood-Porter, in Los Angeles Magazine clarified the difference between Black and White balls, “With African American debutante culture, the goal was always to get these young ladies educated and to prepare them for what lies beyond high school, especially around the ‘40s and ‘50s, when Black debutante organizations and social clubs were being formed. The focus was always on education, giving back to the community, raising money, and forming a network.” Black balls have a meritorious imaging benefit for our community writ large. They are an effort by the educated, affluent middle class Blacks to combat the stereotype of Blacks as an ill-mannered, welfare mentality race.
Young men have their own version of the balls, with creative names like “Beautillions” and “Heir’s Balls.” Groups such as the Link’s, Onyx, as well as fraternities and sororities provide the young people exposure to areas such as etiquette, appropriate dress, and civic involvement. Scholarships to college are a common thread of these galas.
Over the seasons there have been many great highlights, but none as bright as the surprise attendance by President Kennedy. Daniel Epstein’s biography Nat King Cole captures the moment, “From the lobby of the Hilton, President John F. Kennedy and Nat King Cole entered the ballroom where five hundred African Americans had gathered. The President told the crowd: ‘Nat was at our dinner tonight, so I thought I would reciprocate. I congratulate you girls and your families, and I am grateful that you let an itinerant President come to your party.’ King Cole presented his daughter to the President. A reporter wrote, ‘Carol’s bow was most regal.’ The President stayed as the twenty-eight debutantes formed an aisle; he strode down the aisle, and then shook each girl’s hand.’ The event made headlines and social history. It could never have happened before the 1960s and JFK’s Camelot.”
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