wearing black

Oof, it's hot in the house. Our block's cat is lounging in the best chair. We let her in most days. It is breezy outside.

Today I thought about women wearing black. I went to the family run mini mart a couple blocks down the street and bought some paneer, an onion, jalapeno, mayo, and white bread for some meals. I needed ginger root but didn't see it in its usual place. The woman behind the plexiglass was on the phone so I asked her daughter to whom I've never spoken. I've seen her in the store before, a place that has grown 3 times in the year we have been here. (Like a pregnant woman!) :)

Anyway, I found it strange but I felt very comfortable asking this girl for help. See, I'm shy and usually I wouldn't go to such measures to ask for help as I was pretty sure they were out of ginger. But I really needed it for this recipe and I figured that there was a possibility that someone could get ginger for me as it is a small shop and they have many things in storage. (They even sell parakeets from the back of the store - it's that type of curious amalgum of things.)

The girl was short but is probably 10 or 11. Maybe even older. Like her mother, she wears a long black scarf around her head and shoulders and is very pretty. She indicated the shelf in the refrigerator where the ginger should be and we visited it together. She pointed but because she is small, she needed me to look and I didn't see any. So she went up to get some "upstairs".

On Thursday, Notre Dame participated in the Peace Path which is run by Women in Black of Baltimore. Everyone wears black and stands along Charles Street in solidarity for peace.

I have a friend, a sociologist, who only wears black and white and no other colors. I have never asked him why he does this and I've known him for 12 years. I assume it reflects his political beliefs but really, I'm not sure.

In the first example, black indicates modesty. At funerals and at the Peace Path, black indicates mourning. I think I used to associate black with sorrow until I met my friend. So it is a little surprising to see a little girl wearing a black scarf. But I know it has different meaning for her.

Meanings are funny things. They are collectively constructed. Sometimes it is very easy to understand someone's reality and constructed meanings. Sometimes it takes much longer to understand why someone believes something. Why?

I think I know. And I like the answer. Do you wear black? If not, would you? What are your concerns?