The Beauty Pageant
At the heart of the story is Princess' dream of winning the "Miss Black and Beautiful" beauty pageant in the United Kingdom. This pageant is not only about vanity or being superficial. This imagery evokes feelings about the era's (1960s) evolving standards of beauty and the gradual acceptance of the Black community. It also represents Princess' efforts to establish herself as a young black woman in a culture largely focused on white people.
Rosa Parks
Throughout the novel, there is frequent imagery surrounding American civil rights icon Rosa Parks. She served as an inspiration for the civil rights movement within the United Kingdom, and for Princess specifically. Tp that end, the novel draws parallels between the racial struggles in the US and the UK, emphasizing the universality of the black experience during the mid 20th century. Finally, as the movement grows stronger, Rosa Parks imagery becomes more prevalent too.
The pink dress
Princess dreams of wearing a bright and vibrant pink dress to her pageant. This dress is more than just a piece of clothing for Princess; it becomes a focal point of her aspirations and dreams. As Princess moves closer to her dream of participating in the pageant and her mood becomes more positive, imagery surrounding the dress becomes more common.
The brown paper bag
The novel makes frequent reference to the "brown paper bag" test, which was a discriminatory practice where those whose skin color was darker than a brown paper bag faced discrimination and racism from the Black community. This imagery underscores the insidiousness and prevalence of internalized racism within the black community. It serves as a poignant reminder of how these biases can permeate even communities that are themselves subject to discrimination.
