@article{1355631,
      recid = {1355631},
      author = {Shoate, Ronisa Wilkins.},
      title = {Girls in white dresses [electronic resource] /},
      publisher = {Filmakers Library,},
      address = {New York, NY :},
      pages = {1 online resource (27 min.).},
      year = {2010},
      note = {Title from resource description page (viewed May 24,  2011).},
      abstract = {It is startling in this day and age to find teenage girls  willing to come out as debutantes. Yet, as we see in this  delightful film, young middle-class African-American women  in Oxnard, California (as in 150 other communities) happily  participate in this ritual from another era. The debutante  ball is a highlight of the social season. As we follow the  preparations for the event we learn of the history of the  tradition in this African-American community. One might  wonder whether this is still a valid "rite of passage"?  Organized by the older women in the Onyx Club, the balls  uphold their ideals of proper etiquette and conduct for  middle-class young ladies -- sometimes conflicting with the  opinions of the teenage girls. The debs must learn proper  table manners and how to formally present themselves and  their escorts. They go shopping with their mothers for  "appropriate" dresses that are more modest than the girls  would like. Besides the lessons in social graces, the girls  are encouraged to participate in community service. This  ball, for example, raised $400,000 for college  scholarships.},
      url = {http://library.usi.edu/record/1355631},
}