In November 1961, President John F. Kennedy and California Governor Pat Brown greeted 28 young ladies as they made their debut into society during The Links, Incorporated Los Angeles Chapter’s 10th annual cotillion at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
The sitting president was foremost paying respect to singer Nat King Cole, whose daughter Carole was debuting that evening, yet his presence epitomized the emergent power of African American debutante culture. Social organizations such as The Links, Incorporated, the Questionettes, and the 20th Century Onyx Club have a long history of challenging institutionalized stereotypes that limited the role and potential of Black girls. Rights and Rituals: The Making of African American Debutante Culture investigates the origins of these social organizations and the ways they supported young Black women’s participation in vital, albeit sometimes understated, race work.
