The Courtship Season: Love, Race, and Elite African American Women at the Turn of the Twentieth Century

Alexander discusses the courtship process of elite African American women at the turn of the century. Among other things, she highlights the belief held by these women on a serious and moral courtship between man and woman that ultimately leads to marriage, which they deem as symbolizing proper conduct that is necessary for racial advancement in a racialized nation. Moreover, in their society conditioned by the great divide of skin color, a great responsibility is put forward to women entailing them to demonstrate integrity, education, intelligence, eloquence of language, and musical talent.