Multi- African Blockbuster Cultural American w*wstt Hits Halle Summit Debuts Berry Bringing Entertainmeiit Home Page 4 Page 5 Page 7 Th^ A Division of mON pportunityNewMnc SERVING PLANO, DALLAS, RICHARDSON, GARLAND, ALLEN, MCKINNEY AND MESQUITE Volume XI, Number V " 9io r t ft 'D a [ C a s ' "W e e l^t y Taper of Choice January 31-February 6, 2002 ^. r I mean, you don't look Chinese The following first appeared in was the nose. I had this tiny little Chinese. When I was six, I had "Journal of the Asian American bean-shaped nose until I was straight black hair, this tiny little Renaissance," (V 7, N. 1, 1995) about twelve, and then a huge bean nose, almond-shaped eyes I've never felt particularly mass exploded out of my face. and yellow skin. I was very "oppressed." Or outraged. Or The family nose. The Jewish slight, not stocky-tending-to-fat On the Homefront: angry or upset or downtrodden stigma. like other kids. I seemed to or \ictimized. Well, maybe not "You can always tell," the speak differently, too, although The City of Piano pres­ "never." But I've never carried a old woman said, and patted my I'm not sure whether that's ents an exhibit featuring the grudge about it. I've never had knee. "It's so nice to have some­ actually a Chinese trait or not. art of six students who put a an ax to grind. I've never felt Did it have something to do face on the catastrophe of I had a statement to make with the size and shape of my Gloria "Hat Lady" Marsh September 11. This exhibit about the RACISM in our Asiatic larynx and nasal pas­ By Susan Stewart The vision for "Hattitude" will be on display at Collin SOCIETY or the OPPRES­ sages? I don't know, but to my came from Gloria's daughter, Gloria "Hat Lady" Marsh, Count}' Community SION by the DOMINANT ear I had a strange pitch to my Monique who encouraged her CULTURE. Capital letters voice, a sort of high, lilting, owner and creator of "Hatti- to go into business. College as well as \'arious give me a headache, I guess. whistling quality that made tude," a mobile, by appoint­ "I dare you," she'd tell me, locations in Piano through And I guess my friends would me cringe to hear it on tape. ment-only, exclusive women's "so I took the dare," Gloria September 11, 2002. For a be surprised if I did make a I'm probably crazy to think hat emporium proclaims, "We said proudly, and created a schedule of locations, call fuss. there's anything Chinese are queens and hats are our home business. "Hattitude" 972-941-5201. about this part of myself. crown. Every queen needs a "But, what have you got has given me a great sense of Black Histor\' Month to complain about?" they say Whether or not my voice crown. This is my mission and accomplishment and personal will be celebrated at The to me. "You're not a minori­ was really different, my reason for "Hattitude." satisfaction." Doubletree Hotel in Piano ty." And when I point out to appearance certainly was, and "A woman who wears a Marsh says her friends and February 2nd at 7 p.m. The them that, in fact, I am a none of the other kids in hat properly has attitude. Just family are very encouraging. theme for the evening is "It minority': "Oh, well, yeah, school ever let me forget it. the way she wears the hat "Tliey keep pushing me out Takes a Whole Village" and your mom's Chinese, but When I was five, my folks had shows attitude," said Gloria as there. In fact, I am talking with Dr. Joy M. Carter will be the you're not. I mean, you don't one to talk to, I hardly ever see moved to a little farm in the she pierced from underneath a the MON Gazette, because my guest speaker for the look Chinese." anyone. My children, they never Born Again Bible Belt of black small-brimmed casual friend Gwen Daniels gave the evening. Yeah, I don't look Chinese. call, they never visit. It's so hard Minnesota. That's Hickesville, designer hat. Her crown set paper my number and asked Piano Repertory I've heard that before. when you're old. You'll see." the Boonies, Red Neck City. evenly on her head and covered that they call," said the hat col­ Theatre (PRT) will host a I remember this one time Then she stopped and Everyone was white. Germanic her forehead slightly. lector, turned entrepreneur. or Scandinavian, mayb« a little MoWn " ":bruan- 2nd when I lived in Rhode Island. I squinted at me. "But you're not "I've always worn hats," English, but white. And Until recently, however. j£ 8 p .'rtjer to vtr was taking the bus home trom all Jewish, are you?" she said. I she explains. "Growing up with Christian. My family wasn't any Marsh has been somewhat good-bye to its current the beach when this old woman shook my head and explained my mother and grandmother of those things. My parents were reluctant about marketing her home at the ArtCentre got on board. The bus was half that my mother was Chinese. you were not dressed if you business, because her husband empty, but she chose to sit down "Oh," she said, and paused. hippies, atheists, graduate stu­ Tlieatre and help raise were not wearing a hat." travels on business and she fre­ right next to me. "Well, don't worry. It doesn't dents. And not white. Well, OK, funds for its big move to the so my father was white, but my From that early childhood quently accompanies him, "You're Jewish, aren't you?" show." Courtyard Theater. Tickets mother definitely wasn't. The experience. Marsh developed a occasionally having to relocate. she said, just like that, right after She was right, it doesn't are S50, which includes the neighbors didn't know exactly great passion for hats, thus hat "But now, I am ready to she sat down. I stared at her for show. And I guess that I'm lucky cost of food and drinks. what she was. Chinese? Indian? collecting and hat designing expand," she asserts, while joy­ a second and then admitted it doesn't show. But I wasn't Seats are limited and tickets It didn't matter. She was brown. became a hobby and when her fully showing several photos of that, yes, I was Jewish. I have no born lucky. I was born looking can be purchased by calling son moved out Gloria turned idea how she knew. Maybe it Chinese and I grew up looking See Hat Lady page 2 972-422-7460. See I Mean page 6 his room into "My Hat Room." lighthouse Productions in conjunction with local sponsors are proud to pres­ ent the gospel play "The Devil is a Liar!" Februar>- Allen's new natatorium exceeds 2nd-3rd. The play will take William and Janet place at The Piano Arts expectations, comes with a Center Theater, 1028 15th Langhart Cohen: Scale at Ave. K. Admission is $17. For more information, call the Cultural Walls $9.3 million price tag 972-283-4429 or 214-376- Forces, as well as rutming her By ANTHONY JONES users that intend to frequent the Three swim lanes in the 3922. own business, Langhart Com­ Last week the City of Allen pool on a more general basis, pool are always open for public munications, which teaches held the grand opening of its according to Horton. swimming. For folks who would The City of Piano will "corporate captains how to new Don Rodenbaugh Nata­ "The facility' also expects to rather lounge, the leisure pool is host its 1st Annual become more media savvy," torium that features rock climb­ be home to a USS swim team," a fun interactive swimming area. Daddy/Daughter Dance on according to a Washington Post ing, swimming pools and work­ Horton added. USS is a com­ It has 7,200 square feet of water February 9th at Piano article. out center all enclosed under petitive year around swimming surface and includes an interactive Centre's Collinwood Hall one roof. program. "There will also be an play structure, a large slide, a lazy from 7-9:30 p.m. Space is The two met in 1974, and over the next two decades they According to Don Horton, assortment of classes for fitness, river, a vortex, and open water limited and the registration maintained a distant, profes­ director of the Allen Parks and Re­ water type courses and aerobics." play areas, Horton explained. fee is $10 per person. For sional friendship. When Cohen creation Department, the 47,000- "The fitness and cardie "The pool depth ranges from more information, call 972- divorced his wife in 1987 and square-foot facility includes a room is for 14-16-years-of-age zero feet (zero depth entry) to 3 941-7250 or 972-941- Langhart lost her second hus­ workout center complete with when accompanied by an adult, feet 8 inches," Horton said. band to suicide in 1990, their Nautilus strength equipment, pre- and 17-years-of-age and older," That's not all, the new Don William Cohen and his friendship began to flourish. cor-cardio equipment, and there Horton told The Gazette. "The Rodenbaugh Natatorium has a wife, Janet Langhart Cohen, After the sudden death of his is also a free weight room.