The Joy of Black Creativity: Why Prom Season Makes My Heart Sing
The air is buzzing with a unique energy, a time of immersive Black joy is upon us. While most are anxiously preparing for spring at Cakewalk Chicago, my Black-owned bakery supply store, I’ve noticed a delightful shift in our customer purchases — a surge in graduation supplies! Melting chocolate, edible glitter and luster dusts to match planned prom attire, the request for graduation photos printed with food color on sugar sheets, many highlighting college choices (Go HCBU’s) — it’s a clear sign that the season of a beautiful right of passage has arrived!
Prom season is here, and guess what? It’s officially my favorite time of year. Why? Because it’s a full-on explosion of Black joy, a tradition flipped on its head and with a little controversy on the side. For Black communities, prom isn’t just a night, it’s a continuation of a whole year of celebration. It starts with the King Holiday, a reminder of the fight for equality, then Black History Month, honoring our achievements, then graduation season and the joy of prom, then Juneteenth, celebrating freedom itself leading up to the what I’m calling the annual commemoration of the 2023 Alabama Jubilee.
I love driving down the street and seeing generations of family and friends spill into the sidewalks and double parked cars and slowed traffic looking at the balloon arches and carpeted sidewalks and the way communities come together even when we don’t even know the graduate. Prom send off parties are a stark reminder that prom wasn’t always for everyone. It originated in segregated spaces, a privilege denied to Black students for far too long. Just like everything that Black culture touches it’s a tradition that’s been transformed, but not without sparking debate.
In recent years as the celebrations become more extravagant, I’ve noticed an increase in views that don’t match my excitement about the season. Apparently, Black joy needs a permission slip according to “respectability politics.” But here’s the thing: we fought hard for the right to celebrate all of ourselves, not just the parts that fit someone else’s definition of “acceptable.” These joyful prom send-offs can be undeniably creative and sometimes elaborate and sometimes expensive. They’re not for everyone, and there’s no set price tag on what ‘expensive’ means. But these celebrations serve a purpose. Traditional proms themselves can be restrictive and impersonal. Black families have created a joyful, personalized experience to celebrate this milestone. Grades? Don’t matter. Scholarships or college plans? Not the point. Work plans? Nah, not tonight. And if you really take time to think about it, celebrations later in life like weddings and baby showers aren’t really about you, are they? They’re about the new person in your life. Additionally prom, for some, might be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to celebrate a major milestone moment before adulthood sucks all the oxygen out of the room.
So we created our own tradition, one that other cultures are even starting to adopt. Because hey, Black culture? When we do it, it becomes American culture, and that makes it legit. And for the first time for many, a generation of parents/guardians finally has some cash they’re not spending just on surviving.
Black prom isn’t some frivolous expense; it’s a carefully curated economic boom. For most occasions the money spent on prom attire, food, decorations, and festivities stays within our communities, fostering growth and opportunity. Bakers, decorators, party planners, tailors, and t-shirt printers — all experiencing a surge in Black customer support. This is the power of the Black dollar at work, circulating within our own ecosystem. Tiered cakes get baked, sweets tables get assembled, seamstresses get a boost, red carpets get rolled out, blocks get decorated, luxury cars are rented and matching family t-shirts donned (because village duh!)
This economic empowerment stands in stark contrast to a history riddled with attempts to dismantle Black wealth. We remember the devastation of Black Wall Street in Tulsa, and the countless other Black financial hubs purposefully targeted and destroyed throughout history. Redlining, discriminatory lending practices, and racial violence all aimed to cripple Black economic progress.
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But prom season flips the script. It’s a portrait of our ability to thrive, even against historical odds. These celebrations become a powerful symbol of Black self-determination and economic empowerment. This vibrant display isn’t just about celebrating our youth, it’s about pumping dollars back into our communities. Black-owned stores like Cakewalk Chicago are humming with activity, while talented cake decorators, party planners, and seamstresses see their businesses flourish during prom season. This economic boom isn’t just a happy coincidence, it’s a testament to the strength and resilience of Black communities.
We’re finally doing more than just surviving. This energy, this celebration, it’s what keeps us going in a world that often tells Black people we can only work and care for others. And for that moment, Black youth are choosing to be authentically themselves with celebrations in the manner that their families prefer.
Prom parties are a rite of passage. Like Quinceañeras, Bar Mitzvahs, or Sweet 16 birthdays. Back in my day, it was naming ceremonies, claiming our African roots. This generation? They took the pre-prom send-off tradition we created and turned it on its head! Actual prom? Dry AF, filled with school rules and hundreds of people you barely know. So families are creating the vibe they can afford, celebrating this life milestone joyfully in their own way.
Sure, some of these celebrations might be a little over the top. And that’s completely fine. People get to live and do what brings them joy, at the expense of no one else!
Black as hell cuz we can be!
Here at Cakewalk Chicago, we’re thrilled to be a part of this joyous occasion.
Share your favorite memory of prom season and let’s celebrate Black creativity and excellence together.
