Edythe is luminous–adorned in a white two-piece bathing suit with thick straps reaching around her neck and a tie at her bosom. The bottom half is ruched and high-waisted, fringed down the sides. It’s cute and fashionable, but still modest—covering her belly button and a good portion of her midsection, though her ribs (and plenty of skin) are still visible. Edythe is proud of her flat stomach; she thinks she should be, after three children, and enjoys showing off her figure. Her husband, Ralph, would prefer a one-piece, something like the full-coverage suits her friends wear. After all, she’s a married woman and a mother, Ralph thinks.

Edythe is a good girl. Sort of. For most of her life, she’s done what was expected of her. Born into a well-to-do family in Virginia, every woman Edythe knows follows the rules. Rule #1: Never be seen in public wearing anything less than a full face of makeup and hair perfectly coiffed. Rule #2: Being presentable means wearing skirts and dresses (keeping away from colors that are too loud and bold) because slacks are for loose women. Rule #3: Keep a dust-free, uncluttered home where there’s a place for everything and everything in its place; no matter how many children you have. Rule #4: Never swear (at least not loud enough so that other people can hear you). Rule #5: Always be polite and smile–never complain. The rules were different for men. Men got to do what they wanted, be who they wanted in Edythe’s family. Women paid the price for being born female, inculcated at an early age to make men’s lives comfortable. If women followed the rules, they were rewarded with time to socialize: usually at gatherings where they played Bid Whist and Bridge, drank bourbon from delicate etched glasses given to them as part of crystal sets upon marrying, and smoked the occasional cigarette. This was an escape from obligation to their husbands and fathers, though they were never fully relieved of the burden of childrearing as their kids ran in and around the house and often needed tending to while the women drank, gossiped, and allowed themselves to be free, even only for an evening.

Though her carefully curated persona is pleasing to those around her, Edythe has secrets. She dreams of a life unencumbered, one where she is untethered to children, a husband, or parents, freedom from any responsibility to others. Her main fantasy involves her sneaking out at night, while Ralph, dressed in his front-button striped pajama top and long pants, snores away happily and her kids are tucked neatly into their beds. She imagines herself at The Blue Note, Nick’s, or Blues Alley, smoking as many cigarettes as she wants and flirting all night with interesting, good-looking men. In a fit of rebellion (she’s been getting more daring as of late), Edythe has recently cut her thick, dark, always neatly pressed shoulder-length hair into a chic short style with bangs and plenty of volume on top that shows more of her face. She feels sexy and powerful, channeling the confidence of Eartha Kitt or Diana Ross, both of whom she imagines have plenty of lovers. They are the kind of women Edythe desperately wants to be, free women who enjoy the many delights life has to offer.

Disclaimer:
This image is part of the Toogood Stories: Imagined Archives project, which uses found and vintage photographs to honor the lives and imagined inner worlds of Black women. This photo was acquired from a public vintage source (e.g., flea market or online seller). The subjects are currently unknown.

We share this image for educational, artistic, and cultural storytelling purposes only — not for commercial resale. No claim of ownership is made.

If you recognize yourself or a loved one in this photo and would like to share more, offer corrections, or request removal, please contact us at kelly@toogoodstories.co.