Hattie McDaniel Arrives at the Coconut Grove

late, in aqua and ermine, gardenias

scaling her left sleeve in a spasm of scent,

her gloves white, her smile chastened, purse giddy

with stars and rhinestones clipped to her brilliantined hair,

on her free arm that fine Negro,

Mr. Wonderful Smith.

It’s the day that isn’t, February 29th,

at the end of the shortest month of the year—

and the shittiest, too, everywhere

except Hollywood, California,

where the maid can wear mink and still be a maid,

bobbing her bandaged head and cursing

the white folks under her breath as she smiles

and shoos their silly daughters

in from the night dew . . . what can she be

thinking of, striding into the ballroom

where no black face has ever showed itself

except above a serving tray?

Hi-Hat Hattie, Mama Mac, Her Haughtiness,

the “little lady” from Showboat whose name

Bing forgot, Beulah & Bertha & Malena

& Carrie & Violet & Cynthia & Fidelia,

one half of the Dark Barrymores—

dear Mammy we can’t help but hug you crawl into

your generous lap tease you

with arch innuendo so we can feel that

much more wicked and youthful

and sleek but oh what

we forgot: the four husbands, the phantom

pregnancy, your famous parties, your celebrated

ice box cake. Your giggle above the red petticoat’s rustle,

black girl and white girl walking hand in hand

down the railroad tracks

in Kansas City, six years old.

The man who advised you, now

that you were famous, to “begin eliminating”

your more “common” acquaintances

and your reply (catching him square

in the eye): “That’s a good idea.

I’ll start right now by eliminating you.”

Is she or isn’t she? Three million dishes,

a truckload of aprons and headrags later, and here

you are: poised, between husbands

and factions, no corset wide enough

to hold you in, your huge face a dark moon split

by that spontaneous smile—your trademark,

your curse. No matter, Hattie: It’s a long, beautiful walk

into that flower-smothered standing ovation,

so go on

and make them wait.

Source: American Smooth (W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2004)